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Bending The Elbow During Shoulder Flexion Facilitates Greater Scapular Upward Rotation And A More Favorable Scapular Muscle Activation Pattern, Alon Rabin, Brakha R. Tabi, Timothy L. Uhl, Zvi Kozol

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Context: Decreased scapular upward rotation (UR) and diminished activation of the serratus anterior (SA) and lower trapezius (LT) are often observed among patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. Maintaining the elbow fully flexed during shoulder flexion may limit glenohumeral motion due to passive insufficiency of the triceps brachii and therefore facilitate greater scapular UR and increased scapular muscle activation. Objectives: To compare scapular UR, SA, upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius, and LT activation levels between shoulder flexion with the elbow extended (Flexion-EE) to shoulder flexion with the elbow fully flexed (Flexion-EF). This study hypothesized that Flexion-EF would result in …

Arm Dominance Does Not Influence Measures Of Scapular Muscle Strength And Endurance In Healthy Individuals, Joseph M. Day, Heather M. Bush, Arthur J. Nitz, Tim L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND PURPOSE: Scapular muscle performance is potentially influenced by arm dominance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of arm dominance on clinical measures of scapulohumeral muscle strength and endurance.
METHODS: Thirty-two healthy individuals between the ages of 30 and 65 years were recruited to participate. Scapular muscle strength of the upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) were recorded with a hand held dynamometer. One scapulohumeral isometric muscle endurance task was performed in prone. The order of testing (strength and endurance) was randomized for each individual. Dominant to …

Scapular Muscle Assessment In Patients With Lateral Epicondylalgia, Joseph M. Day

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

The role rehabilitation plays in the management of patients with lateral epicondylalgia (LE) remains elusive secondary to high recurrence rates. Addressing scapular muscle deficits may be important in the rehabilitation of patients with LE. However, it is unknown if scapular muscle impairments exist in a working population of patients with LE. The purpose of this dissertation was to assess scapular muscle strength and endurance in a working population of patients with LE.

Clinical scapular muscle assessment tools are limited in their ability to isolate specific muscles. Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) is a potentially useful tool but few studies have investigated …