title: Rehabilitation Exercises to Induce Balanced Scapular Muscle Activity in an Anti-gravity Posture.
abstract: [Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the intramuscular balance ratios of the upper trapezius muscle (UT) and the lower trapezius muscle (LT), and the intermuscular balance ratios of the UT and the serratus anterior muscle (SA) among prone extension (ProExt), prone horizontal abduction with external rotation (ProHAbd), forward flexion in the side-lying position (SideFlex), side-lying external rotation (SideEr), shoulder flexion with glenohumeral horizontal abduction load (FlexBand), and shoulder flexion with glenohumeral horizontal adduction load (FlexBall) in the standing posture. [Methods] The electromyographic (EMG) activities of the UT, LT and SA were measured during the tasks. The percentage of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) was calculated for each muscle, and the UT/LT ratios and the UT/SA ratios were compared among the tasks. [Results] The UT/LT ratio with the FlexBand was not significantly different from those of the four exercises in the side-lying and prone postures. The UT/SA ratio with the FlexBall demonstrated appropriate balanced activity. [Conclusion] In an anti-gravity posture, we recommend the FlexBand and the FlexBall for inducing balanced UT/LT and UT/SA ratios, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan ; Matsuda Orthopaedic Memorial Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomonobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishigaki
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirokawa
authors.affiliation: Higashi-Naebo Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Keita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan ; Matsuda Orthopaedic Memorial Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ezawa
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samukawa
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
authors.forename: Harukazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tohyama
authors.affiliation: Matsuda Orthopaedic Memorial Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugawara
keywords: Balanced scapular muscle activity; Electromyography; Scapular muscle exercise