The effect of scapular posterior tilt exercise, pectoralis minor stretching, and shoulder brace on scapular alignment and muscles activity in subjects with round-shoulder posture

Ji-hyun Lee; Heon-seock Cynn; Tae-lim Yoon; Chang-hee Ko; Woo-jeong Choi; Sil-ah Choi; Bong-sam Choi

doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.10.010

The effect of scapular posterior tilt exercise, pectoralis minor stretching, and shoulder brace on scapular alignment and muscles activity in subjects with round-shoulder posture

J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2015 Feb;25(1):107-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.10.010. Epub 2014 Oct 28.

Authors

Ji-hyun Lee¹, Heon-seock Cynn², Tae-lim Yoon³, Chang-hee Ko⁴, Woo-jeong Choi⁵, Sil-ah Choi⁶, Bong-sam Choi⁷

Affiliations

¹ Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Baekwoon-kwan, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jihyun.lee@yonsei.ac.kr.
² Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Baekwoon-kwan, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: cynn@yonsei.ac.kr.
³ Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Baekwoon-kwan, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea; Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Woosong University, #17-2, Jayang-dong, Dong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: free0829@gmail.com.
⁴ Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Baekwoon-kwan, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: gchpsh@hanmail.net.
⁵ Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Baekwoon-kwan, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: cwj7354@gmail.com.
⁶ Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Baekwoon-kwan, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: silah88@naver.com.
⁷ Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Woosong University, #17-2, Jayang-dong, Dong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: bchoi@wsu.ac.kr.

PMID: 25467545
DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.10.010

Abstract

Background: There are various methods for rehabilitating round-shoulder posture (RSP), including strengthening exercises, stretching, and using a shoulder brace or taping to correct the altered posture. However, no study has determined which intervention is the most effective of the three methods to decrease RSP (intervention #1: scapular posterior tilting exercise alone [hereafter, SPT], intervention #2: the scapular posterior tilting exercise after PM stretching [PM stretch+SPT], and intervention #3: the scapular posterior tilting exercise with use of a shoulder brace [SPT+brace]).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the SPT, PM stretch+SPT, and SPT+brace on RSP, PM index (PMI), and lower trapezius (LT) and serratus anterior (SA) activity in subjects with RSP.

Methods: In total, fifteen young men with RSP, participated in the study (21.46 ± 2.30 years old). RSP was confirmed using a caliper measure. Surface electromyography (SEMG) data for LT and SA activity were collected during the three interventions, and the SEMG data are expressed as a percentage of the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC).

Results: RSP was significantly less in the PM stretch+SPT and SPT+brace than in the SPT (P<0.05). PMI was significantly greater in the PM stretch+SPT and SPT+brace than in the SPT (P<0.05). LT activity was significantly greater in the PM stretch+SPT than in the SPT or SPT+brace in subjects with RSP (P<0.05).

Conclusions: The PM stretching exercise and application of a shoulder brace may help correct RSP and restore the length of the PM. The posterior tilting exercise after PM stretching was the most effective method for eliciting greater LT muscle activation among the interventions tested.

Keywords: Pectoralis minor stretching; Round-shoulder posture; Scapular posterior tilting exercise; Shoulder brace.

MeSH terms

Braces*
Electromyography
Humans
Isometric Contraction*
Male
Muscle Stretching Exercises / methods*
Muscle, Skeletal / physiology*
Posture*
Scapula / physiology*
Shoulder / physiology*
Young Adult