Electromyographically Based■ Rehabilitation Exercises for the Scapula

Overhead athletes including those in racket sports, throwers, volleyball players, and swimmers require full, unrestricted use of their upper extremity to compete at optimal levels. Scapulothoracic and scapulohumeral (rotatorcuff) muscle function are critical for normal overhead activities of the shoulder and play an important role in normal shoulder function. Furthermore, weakness of scapulothoracic and scapulohumeral muscles is a common cause of shoulder pathology. The primary purpose of this article is to describe therapeutic exercises that activate scapulothoracic and scapulohumeral muscles that are derived from literature examining the electromyographical (EMG) activation of the scapular muscles. Therapeutic exercises have been investigated using surface and indwelling EMG in order to determine to what level specific scapulothoracic and scapulohumeral muscles are activated. Electromyographic studies will be used in this article to provide a rationale for exercise recommendations to strengthen scapulothoracic and scapulohumeral muscles. Scapulothoracic Muscles and Pathology