While I was researching this topic, I found that most research papers reported that Medial Shoulder Instability (MSI) in cats is a rare occurrence. So I began to scratch my head because this did not match what I was seeing on a daily basis as a pet physio. Unlike dogs, cats unfortunately are a a lot better at compensating for pain being of a much smaller mass size and also because they spend half their time sleeping. This problem often goes unnoticed by cat owners and therefore undiagnosed by vets, making MSI in cats seem ” uncommon”.
What is Medial Shoulder Instability ?
MSI occurs when there is damage to the medial glenohumeral ligament, subscapularis tendon and or medial joint capsule. These are the structures that support the medial side of the shoulder joint.
Causes of Medial Shoulder Instability in Cats
1.Jumping down from heights
2.Falling and landing awkwardly
3.Slipping on slippery surfaces (eg. tiles/floorboards) whilst doing zoomies
4.Chasing prey (insects/birds)
Behaviour Changes
1.Hesitancy when jumping down
2.Decrease in movement
3.Decrease in appetite in response to pain
4.Not keen on being touched or patted.
Physical Signs
1.Loss of muscle mass around the shoulder region
2.Intermittent limping after getting up from rest
3.Leans away from the painful limb in standing/sitting
Diagnosis
Manually testing the shoulder abduction angle ***
MRI
Shoulder arthroscopy (invasive)
X-ray is unlikely to detect MSI because this is a soft tissue injury
How your pet physio can help
Since treatment for MSI is often non surgical, this is where your pet physio steps in.
Step 1 – pain management is super important when treating MSI in cats because if pain is present then the muscles around the shoulder will not contract properly. In addition to medication, treatment options like TENS, LASER and THERMAL applications can assist in reducing shoulder pain.
Step 2 – muscle strengthening is essential in stablising the cat’s shoulder joint. Muscle stimulation, therapeutic exercises and special cat strategies to encourage the use of the affected limb are often used by Physio for Pets.
Step 3 – modification to home environment so cat owners can set up the home to make it easier for their cats to climb up/down surfaces. Advice is also given to help reduce slippage.
Not treating cats with MSI will lead to faster development of osteoarthritis in the shoulder and a lifetime of pain.
Let Physio for Pets help you help your cats recover from injuries such as MSI.