This EMG study measured muscle activity in eight scapular muscles across 16 rehabilitation exercises in 9 healthy subjects. It asked which exercises most effectively recruit the scapular rotators to build an evidence-based strengthening program.
When you write a shoulder rehab prescription, this paper gives you four exercises that cover the entire scapular musculature: scaption, rowing, push-up with a plus, and press-up. Use the push-up with a plus specifically for serratus anterior activation. This matters in scapular dyskinesis and winging, where a weak serratus fails to upwardly rotate and protract the scapula.
Remember the plane distinction that drives exercise safety. Scaption with external rotation clears the cuff from the coracoacromial arch above 90°, while abduction in the same range provokes impingement. The study grounds the scapular force couple you need for boards: upper trapezius, upper serratus, and levator scapulae form the upper limb; lower trapezius and lower serratus form the lower limb.
The main limitation is that these are 9 healthy young volunteers, so activation patterns in a pathologic or postoperative shoulder may differ.
This EMG study measured muscle activity in eight scapular muscles across 16 rehabilitation exercises in 9 healthy subjects. It asked which exercises most effectively recruit the scapular rotators to build an evidence-based strengthening program.
When you write a shoulder rehab prescription, this paper gives you four exercises that cover the entire scapular musculature: scaption, rowing, push-up with a plus, and press-up. Use the push-up with a plus specifically for serratus anterior activation. This matters in scapular dyskinesis and winging, where a weak serratus fails to upwardly rotate and protract the scapula.
Remember the plane distinction that drives exercise safety. Scaption with external rotation clears the cuff from the coracoacromial arch above 90°, while abduction in the same range provokes impingement. The study grounds the scapular force couple you need for boards: upper trapezius, upper serratus, and levator scapulae form the upper limb; lower trapezius and lower serratus form the lower limb.
The main limitation is that these are 9 healthy young volunteers, so activation patterns in a pathologic or postoperative shoulder may differ.