• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.65-71
• /
• 2016

Background: The unilateral prone arm lift (UPAL) is commonly used to exercise the lower trapezius muscle. However, overactivation of the upper trapezius can induce pain during UPAL exercises in subjects with upper trapezius tenderness. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of position of ipsilateral neck rotation (INR) on the inhibition of upper trapezius muscle activity and the facilitation of the lower trapezius muscle when performing UPAL exercises. Methods: In total, 19 subjects with upper trapezius tenderness were recruited for the study. Electromyographic (EMG) activity was measured in the upper, middle, and lower trapezius muscles during UPAL with and without INR position. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare EMG activity in the trapezius muscles and the muscle ratios. Results: EMG activity in the upper trapezius muscles was decreased significantly in the INR condition compared to without the position with INR during UPAL exercises (p<.05). EMG activity in the middle and lower trapezius was not significantly different between the with and without INR conditions (p>.05). However, the ratio of lower to upper trapezius activation showed a significant increase in the INR condition compared to the without INR condition (p<.05), indicating greater lower trapezius activation relative to the upper trapezius in the INR position than in the without INR position. Conclusions: The EMG results obtained in this study suggest that the position with INR reduced overactivation in the upper trapezius and improved muscle imbalance during lower trapezius exercises in individuals with upper trapezius tenderness.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.77-85
• /
• 2010

This study was conducted to find the effects of scapular taping on muscle activities of the scapular rotators and upper trapezius pain in subjects with upper trapezius pain. Fifteen male subjects were recruited from Yonsei University for this study. Muscle activity of upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior was measured using surface electromyography. Visual analog scale was used for measuring upper trapezius pain. The subjects were asked to maintain $90^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion position with holding a 1 kg dumbbell in standing position. Scapular taping was applied over the muscle belly of the upper trapezius and attached parallel with the lower trapezius muscle fibers. For normalization, % maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) was conducted. Paired t-test was applied to compare the muscle activities of scapular rotator and upper trapezius pain before and after applying the scapular taping. The muscle activity of the upper trapezius muscle and serratus anterior decreased significantly after tape application (p<.05). However, no significant difference was observed in lower trapezius muscle. The level of pain in the upper trapezius muscle significantly decreased after tape application (p<.05). The results of this study suggest that scapular taping can be used an additional therapy for reducing muscle activity of upper trapezius, serratus anterior and upper trapezius pain during shoulder flexion in patient with upper trapezius pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.76-83
• /
• 2011

The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effects of single treatment of strain-counter strain (SCS) on pressure pain threshold (PPT) and muscle activity during scapular plane abduction with 3% body weight load. Fifteen asymptomatic male adults with upper trapezius latent trigger point (LTrP) (PPT<2.9 $kg/cm^2$) participated in this study. Pressure algometer was used to measure PPT and surface electromyography was used to record upper, middle arid lower trapezius, serratus anterior, infraspinatus and middle deltoid muscle activity and relative ratio during scapular plane abduction between pre- and post-intervention. There was a significant increase in upper trapezius PPT after a 90-second SCS (p<.05). The activity of the upper trapezius and middle deltoid was significantly decreased (p=.014, p=.001), coupled with a decreased muscle activity ratio between the upper and lower trapezius (p<.05). These results indicate that the SCS may effectively deactivate upper trapezius activity, thereby alleviating muscle balance and reducing pain sensitivity.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.1975-1980
• /
• 2020

Background: It has been argued that changes in muscle activity in the upper trapezius and serratus anterior may or may not cause shoulder joint pain and dysfunction. Objective: To investigate the effects of active vibration exercise on muscle activity regarding scapular stabilization using a flexi-bar. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 24 subjects were randomly assigned to a flexi-bar group with active vibration and general stick group with non-active vibration. Both groups performed the same four action programs for 6 weeks, three times a week for 30 minutes at a time. The upper trapezius muscle, middle trapezius muscle, lower trapezius muscle and serratus anterior muscle of the dominant side was measured by electromyography before and after the 6 weeks of exercise. The independent t-test and paired t-test were used to analyze data. Results: There was a significant difference between groups in upper trapezius muscle and serratus anterior muscle activity after exercise (P<.05). Also, there was a significant difference in upper trapezius muscle and serratus anterior muscle activity before and after exercise in the flexi-bar group (P<.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that active vibration exercise using a flexi-Bar contribute to reduce the activity of the upper trapezius muscle and promote the activity of the serratus anterior muscle.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.134-139
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the most effective exercise while performing shoulder abduction below ninety degrees. Methods: Thirty two healthy individuals (17 males, 15 females) participated and performed four exercises, 1) Posterior fly, 2) Prone row, 3) Modified prone cobra, and 4) External rotation in the prone position. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure the electrical activities for the lower, middle and upper fiber of trapezius and serratus anterior. Results: A significant difference in the muscle activities of the upper/middle/lower trapezius and serratus anterior was observed among the three different positions in terms of the PF (posterior fly), PR (prone row), and MPC (modified prone cobra) (p<0.05). In post-hoc analysis, the activities of the lower and upper trapezius were significantly higher than those of the upper trapezius and serratus anterior (p<0.05). In addition, in ERP (external rotation in prone), there was a significant difference in each activity of the muscles. Post-hoc results indicated that the upper trapezius showed greater EMG activity than the other three muscles. Conclusion: External rotation in the prone position revealed the highest activation of the lower trapezius compared to upper trapezius muscle activity. This may be particularly useful in isolating the lower trapezius in cases where excessive scapular elevation is noted. Therefore, the most effective lower trapezius exercise should be performed below ninety degrees of shoulder abduction.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.101-106
• /
• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the effects of the directions of neck rotation on the muscle activity of the upper trapezius and lower trapezius while rotating a shoulder externally. Methods: Twenty-five healthy males participated in this study. The subjects were asked to rotate their shoulder externally with 90° shoulder abduction and 90° elbow flexion in three different neck rotations (neutral, ipsilateral, and contralateral) in the prone position. The muscle activities of the upper and lower trapezius were measured using surface electromyography. One way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the muscle activity of the upper and lower trapezius depending on the different neck turning directions. Results: In the upper trapezius, turning the neck in the ipsilateral direction while turning a shoulder externally decreased the muscle activity significantly, but the muscle activity was increased significantly by turning the neck in the contralateral direction. On the other hand, in the lower trapezius, turning the neck in the ipsilateral direction increased the muscle activity significantly, but the muscle activity was decreased significantly by turning the neck in the contralateral direction decreased it significantly. Conclusion: When someone has an imbalance of shoulder function, turning the neck in the ipsilateral direction while turning the shoulder externally in the prone position is effective in decreasing the activity of the upper trapezius and increasing the activity of the lower trapezius. Therefore, these results could be used as basic evidence for researching patients with shoulder problems.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2019

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of muscles around the scapulothoracic muscles according to the angle of shoulder joint abduction in the prone position. Methods : The participants included 15 adult males who had not undergone orthopedic surgery and did not have shoulder joint impairments. We measured the muscle activity of the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior at $120^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, and $60^{\circ}$ shoulder joint abduction angles. Results : There was a significant difference in the comparison of muscle activity in the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and serratus anterior muscles according to the shoulder joint abduction angle (p<.05). The results of the post test showed that the upper trapezius was significantly different between $120^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ (p<.01), and the middle trapezius was significantly different between $90^{\circ}$ and $120^{\circ}$, and between $90^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ (p<.05). There was a significant difference in the serratus anterior between $120^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ (p<.01), and $120^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ (p<.01). Conclusion : The results of this study could be used to determine an effective shoulder joint abduction angle to reduce muscle activity of the upper trapezius and increase muscle activity of the middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.19-23
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the muscle activity ratio according to the shoulder abduction angle by identifying the mean muscle activities and calculating the muscle ratios for use in developing strengthening methods. Methods: The participants were healthy adults in their 20s (n=19). The activity of the deltoid middle, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius muscles was measured by 8-channel surface electromyography. Muscle activity was measured during 4 conditions of angle of shoulder abduction: $30^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, and $120^{\circ}$. The data used in the analysis were the root mean square and % total muscle activity values. Results: The root mean square values for the deltoid middle, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius muscles showed significant differences. No significant differences were detected in the % total muscle activity of the deltoid middle, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, or lower trapezius muscles. Conclusion: Future studies aimed at developing selective shoulder abductor muscle strengthening methods are likely to provide more effective results by using muscle activity ratios.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.13-20
• /
• 2021

Background: The serratus anterior and upper trapezius muscles act synergistically to allow for an appropriate scapulothoracic rhythm. However, a decrease in serratus anterior activation causes the upper trapezius to become overactivated, resulting in dysfunction. This study compared serratus anterior and upper trapezius muscle activity according to sling angle and compared serratus anterior strength between healthy adults and patients with shoulder instability. Methods: Twenty participants (10 healthy adults and 10 patients with shoulder instability) were included in this study. The participants had their arms extended at sling angles of 30°, 60°, and 90° in reach forward with shoulder flexion using goniometer. Serratus anterior strength was measured three times while the participants were supine. The outcome measures were surface electromyography amplitude of the upper trapezius and serratus anterior and serratus anterior strength. Results: The Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated that the upper trapezius was significantly different between healthy group and shoulder instability group at a sling angle of 60°, and both the upper trapezius and serratus anterior exhibited significant differences at 90°. Moreover, a significant difference was noted in the muscle strength of the serratus anterior. Conclusion: Our results provide novel and promising clinical evidence that patients with shoulder instability have decreased serratus anterior activation and upper trapezius overactivation, resulting in muscle imbalance. In addition, there was a significant difference between the healthy group and shoulder instability group in the serratus anterior muscle strength

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find out the effects on muscle activations of serratus anterior and upper trapezius muscles when push-up plus exercise togu applied differently depending on the body part. Method : Thirty six volunteers took part in this study and we divided into three groups(upper arm togu group 12, leg togu group 12, upper arm-leg togu group 12). Each experimental group performed push-up plus exercise. All volunteers received a total of 18 exercise session over a 6 week period (three times per week). Exercise program was composed of serratus anterior and upper trapezius push-up plus exercise. Then we measured muscle activation of scapular stabilizer by electromyography. Repeated ANOVA was used to examine the effects of the intervention on each outcome measure. Result : After the six week intervention, there was a significant difference between the pre and 6 week in serratus anterior and upper trapezius muscle activity(p<0.05). After the six week intervention, there was a significant difference among the three group in serratus anterior muscle activity but no significant difference in upper trapezius muscle activity(p>.05). Conclusion : Serratus anterior and upper trapezius showed high muscle activity during push-up plus exercise. Therefore have a positive impact of scapular stabilizer. The larger the area of the unstable support surface, the larger muscle activity was larger of variation quantity.