Effects of Intended Scapular Posterior Tilt Motion on Trapezius Muscle Electromyography Activity

Soo-Yong Kim, Il-Young Yu, Jae-Seop Oh and Min-Hyeok Kang
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Soo-Yong Kim: Department of Physical Therapy, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Korea
Il-Young Yu: Department of Rehabilitation Center, Dang Dang Korean Medicine Hospital, Changwon 51495, Korea
Jae-Seop Oh: Department of Physical Therapy, INJE University, Gimhae 50834, Korea
Min-Hyeok Kang: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Pusan, Busan 46252, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-11

Abstract: The intended scapular motion is a strategy to strengthen the lower trapezius (LT). However, few studies have explored the effects of the intended scapular posterior tilt motion on selective LT activation. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of the intended scapular posterior tilt on the electromyography (EMG) activity of trapezius muscles during prone shoulder horizontal abduction (PSHA). Eighteen asymptomatic men performed three types of PSHA: (1) preferred PSHA, (2) PSHA with the intended scapular posterior tilt, and (3) PSHA with the intended scapular posterior tilt and trunk extension. EMG activity of the upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), and LT were measured during PSHAs. Scapular posterior tilt angle, with and without the intended scapular posterior tilt, were measured using inclinometer. The results indicated that LT muscle activity increased when scapular posterior tilt was applied with and without trunk extension (14–16%), compared to the preferred condition, during PSHA ( p < 0.05). However, the addition of trunk extension to PSHA with the intended scapular posterior tilt increased the UT muscle activity (28%) and the UT/LT (29%) and UT/MT (31%) ratios ( p < 0.05). The scapular posterior tilt angle was higher (15%) when applying the intended scapular posterior tilt ( p = 0.020). These findings suggest that the intended scapular posterior tilt may be a useful strategy for selective LT muscle activation.

Keywords: electromyography; lower trapezius; scapular posterior tilt; selective muscle activation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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