Excessive scapular motion in individuals recovering from painful and stiff shoulders: causes and treatment strategies.
OBJECTIVE
Scapular excursion and the wrist speed were studied before and after instruction and practice designed to achieve symmetrical scapular movement.


METHODS
Subjects were 10 female and 6 male patients, aged 44 to 78 years (chi=60.3, SD=11.2), with diagnosed shoulder pathologies.


METHODS
Subjects were videotaped performing a reaching task. Pain status was monitored. The subjects were instructed to make the scapular movement symmetrical. They then repeated the task, while being videotaped, to monitor the effect of instruction.


RESULTS
Individuals with asymmetric upper-extremity starting positions had excessive vertical motion of the involved scapula, which they controlled after instruction. Peak wrist speed of the involved upper extremity was lower only after instruction.


CONCLUSIONS
Even in the absence of biomechanical factors or pain, excessive scapular vertical motion appears to occur in the involved upper extremities of individuals recovering from unilateral shoulder problems. Improved scapular control can follow simple verbal instruction and practice, with a slight decrement in wrist speed.
Babyar
S R
SR
Physical Therapy Program, School of Health Sciences, Hunter College, New York 10010, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012540:Scapula / Q000502:physiology*; D012785:Shoulder Joint