title: The effect of chronic shoulder pain on maximal force of shoulder abduction.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine if chronic shoulder pain had an effect on arm abduction strength and recruitment strategies of the serratus anterior, middle deltoid, and upper trapezius.
  
  
  METHODS
  The maximal isometric force at 30° arm abduction and the electromyographic activity of the serratus anterior, middle deltoid, and upper trapezius were recorded for 14 subjects with unilateral chronic shoulder pain and 11 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to the group without pain, the group with chronic shoulder pain showed no significant difference in maximal force production during isometric arm abduction. The Mann-Whitney tests showed no differences in the activation of the serratus anterior, middle deltoid, and upper trapezius between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjects with chronic shoulder pain of mild to moderate intensity showed no difference from healthy subjects in arm abduction maximal strength, and recruitment patterns of serratus anterior, middle deltoid, and upper trapezius.
authors.affiliation: School of Health & Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Australia.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naef
authors.affiliation: School of Health & Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Australia. Electronic address: sandra.grace@scu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.affiliation: School of Health & Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Australia.
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Crowley-McHattan
authors.affiliation: School of Health & Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Australia.
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.affiliation: School of Health & Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McLeod
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electromyography; Muscle recruitment pattern; Muscle strength; Shoulder pain