Comparison of electromyographic activity of the lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscle in different arm-lifting scapular posterior tilt exercises.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the most effective exercise to specifically activate the scapular posterior tilting muscles by comparing muscle activity generated by different exercises (wall facing arm lift, prone arm lift, backward rocking arm lift, backward rocking diagonal arm lift).


METHODS
Repeated-measure within-subject intervention.


METHODS
The subjects were 20 healthy young men and women.


METHODS
Lower trapezius (LT) and serratus anterior (SA) muscle activity was measured when subjects performed the four exercises.


RESULTS
Muscle activity was significantly different among the four exercise positions (p<0.05). The backward rocking diagonal arm lift elicited significantly greater activity in the LT muscle than did the other exercises (p<0.05). The backward rocking arm lift showed significantly more activity in the SA muscle than did the other exercises (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians can use these results to develop scapular posterior tilting exercises that specifically activate the target muscle.
Department of Rehabilitation Therapy, Graduate School of Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
Sung-min
SM
Ha
Oh-yun
OY
Kwon
Heon-seock
HS
Cynn
Won-hwee
WH
Lee
Kyue-nam
KN
Park
Si-hyun
SH
Kim
Do-young
DY
Jung
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D053587:Arthrometry, Articular; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D017770:Lifting; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D012782:Shoulder / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult