Serratus anterior and trapezius muscle activity during knee push-up plus and knee-plus exercises performed on a stable, an unstable surface and during sling-suspension.
OBJECTIVE
Push-up plus variations are commonly prescribed to clients during shoulder rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to compare electromyographic (EMG) activities of the serratus anterior (SA), upper (UT), and lower trapezius (LT) during a knee push-up plus and knee-plus exercise performed on various surfaces.


METHODS
Within-subjects Repeated-Measure Design.


METHODS
19 healthy, young female participants performed both exercises on a stable and unstable surface and during sling-suspension.


METHODS
Surface EMG activities were recorded and average amplitudes were presented as a percentage of the maximal voluntary contraction. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was performed to determine differences in activity for each muscle.


RESULTS
SA showed no significant differences between exercises and was independent of the base of support (p > 0.05). Muscle activity of UT (95% CI [1.2, 1.4]) and LT (95% CI [2.4, 3.5]) showed slightly greater values when performing the knee push-up plus compared to the knee-plus exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
The isolated protraction of the shoulder girdle in a kneeling position is as sufficient as the push-up plus in activating the SA selectively. Therefore, we recommended this exercise for clients who are unable to perform an entire push-up or should avoid detrimental stress on the shoulder joint.
St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, AUT, Austria; St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, AUT, Austria. Electronic address: Brian.Horsak@fhstp.ac.at.
Brian
B
Horsak
Neurological Rehabilitation Center Gmundnerberg, Department of Physiotherapy, AUT, Austria.
Marion
M
Kiener
St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, AUT, Austria.
Andreas
A
Pötzelsberger
St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, AUT, Austria; St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, AUT, Austria.
Tarique
T
Siragy
D004576:Electromyography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
EMG; Rehabilitation; Shoulder; Suspension training; Therapeutic exercise; Unstable surface