Scapular muscle-activation ratios in patients with shoulder injuries during functional shoulder exercises.
BACKGROUND
Alterations in scapular muscle activation, which are common with glenohumeral (GH) injuries, affect stability and function. Rehabilitation aims to reestablish activation between muscles for stability by progressing to whole-body movements.


OBJECTIVE
To determine scapular muscle-activation ratios and individual muscle activity (upper trapezius [UT], middle trapezius [MT], lower trapezius [LT], serratus anterior [SA]) differences between participants with GH injuries and healthy control participants during functional rehabilitation exercises.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Laboratory.


METHODS
Thirty-nine participants who had GH injuries (n = 20; age = 23.6 ± 3.2 years, height = 170.7 ± 11.5 cm, mass = 74.7 ± 13.1 kg) or were healthy (n = 19; age = 24.4 ± 3.3 years, height = 173.6 ± 8.6 cm, mass = 74.7 ± 14.8 kg) were tested.


METHODS
Clinical examination confirmed each participant's classification as GH injury or healthy control. Participants performed 4 exercises (bow and arrow, external rotation with scapular squeeze, lawnmower, robbery) over 3 seconds with no load while muscle activity was recorded.


METHODS
We used surface electromyography to measure UT, MT, LT, and SA muscle activity. Scapular muscle-activation ratios (UT:MT, UT:LT, and UT:SA) were calculated (normalized mean electromyography of the UT divided by normalized mean electromyography of the MT, LT, and SA). Exercise × group analyses of variance with repeated measures were conducted.


RESULTS
No group differences for activation ratios or individual muscle activation amplitude were found (P > .05). Similar UT:MT and UT:LT activation ratios during bow-and-arrow and robbery exercises were seen (P > .05); both had greater activation than external-rotation-with-scapular-squeeze and lawnmower exercises (P < .05). The bow-and-arrow exercise elicited the highest activation from the UT, MT, and LT muscles; SA activation was greatest during the external-rotation-with-scapular-squeeze exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
Scapular muscle activation was similar between participants with GH injuries and healthy control participants when performing the unloaded multiplanar, multijoint exercises tested. High activation ratios during the bow-and-arrow exercise indicate UT hyperactivity or decreased MT, LT, and SA activity. Our GH injury group may be comparable to high-functioning injured athletes. Study results may assist clinicians in selecting appropriate exercises for scapular muscle activation when caring for injured athletes.
Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Club, Scottsdale.
Chad R
CR
Moeller
Kellie C Huxel
KC
Bliven
Alison R Snyder
AR
Valier
D061725:Accelerometry; D065767:Activation, Metabolic; D000328:Adult; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D056352:Athletes; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012399:Rotation; D012540:Scapula / Q000503:physiopathology; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D055815:Young Adult
force couple; glenohumeral joint; rehabilitation; serratus anterior muscle; trapezius muscle