Comparison of Shoulder Stabilizer Muscle Activations during Push Up Plus Exercise by with Cervical Flexion and Extension

• Published in: Journal of Physical Therapy Science Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 111 - 113
• Main Authors: SANGYEOL LEE, JINTAE HAN, MINCHULL PARK, MYOUNGHEE LEE, JEMYUNG SHIM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Society of Physical Therapy Science 2011
• ISSN: 0915-5287

[Purpose]The purpose of this study was to analyze the activation of the muscles around the shoulder in relation to the cervical flexion and extension during the push-up plus exercise in order to provide the fundamental data to establish the posture that can maximize the effect of the shoulder stabilizer exercise. [Subjects]The subjects of the experiment were 18 healthy people, male adults in their age of twenties with normal ROM and without musculoskeletal disease at the shoulder complex and upper limb. [Methods]Muscular activity of the shoulder stabilizer muscles in cervical flexion and extension and the neutral position were measured by electromyogramphy (EMG). [Results]The muscle activations among the cervical positions were compared and the results showed that there were a significant differences for the serratus anterior muscle, sternocleidomastoid muscle, cervical paraspinalis muscle and pectoralis major muscle. [Conclusion]These results show that different shoulder stabilizers are activated during the push-up plus exercise depending on not only the location of the neck but also the internal or external rotation and abduction/adduction angle of the shoulder joint, suggesting that establishment of an accurate position for the strengthening of each muscle is necessary.