Electromyographic Analysis of Traditional and Kinetic Chain Exercises for Dynamic Shoulder Movements

Abstract

Oliver, GD, Plummer, HA, and Gascon, SS. Electromyographic analysis of traditional and kinetic chain exercises for dynamic shoulder movements. J Strength Cond Res 30(11): 3146-3154, 2016-Proper utilization of the kinetic chain allows for efficient kinetic energy transfer from the proximal segments to the distal segments. The aims of this study were to describe muscle activations in 4 kinetic chain prethrowing exercises and compare these muscle activations with 3 traditional resistance-band exercises. Twenty-six healthy college students (22.9 ± 3.4 years; 172.2 ± 8.6 cm; 74.2 ± 16.3 kg), regardless of gender, participated. Surface electromyographic data were recorded for selected pelvic and scapular musculature while subjects performed the exercises. The exercises included airplane (single-leg balance with weight-bearing hip flexed to 90° and non-weight-bearing hip extended) while performing alternating repetitions of external and internal shoulder rotation, lunge, Get Up, single-leg balance, and resistance band I, T, and Y. A repeated-measures analysis of variance, with a factor of exercise (8 different levels), was used. Post hoc analyses were used for each muscle to determine the statistically significant differences between exercises. The results reveal the greatest activation occurred during the 2 airplane exercises than all the other exercises. The results of this study help to establish surface electromyographic data for selected pelvis and scapula musculature during a series of kinetic chain and resistance-band exercises. Understanding the muscle activations during these exercises can assist clinicians and coaches in choosing the appropriate exercises to implement for individuals involved in dynamic shoulder movement.

Influence of a Pre-throwing Protocol on Range of Motion and Strength in Baseball Athletes

“…In addition, the intervention team also performed the pre-throwing exercises provided by the investigator. Previous data examining muscle activations of the LPHC and scapular musculature were used to determine the pre-throwing exercises [32,39,40]. The pre-throwing exercises were presented to the intervention team and they were instructed to perform the exercises in addition to their established warm-up.…”

EMG Analysis of Dynamic Warm-up Exercises for Overhead Sports

“…Performing exercises with pelvic neutral and scapular retraction are key components of shoulder rehabilitation [27]. Of particular importance in shoulder rehabilitation is developing and maintaining LPHC and scapular stability [17,18]. Thus it was the purpose of this study to examine total body exercise that could possibly be implemented into a pre-throwing regimen in attempt to activate the musculature of the LPHC and scapula.…”

“…The muscle bellies of all muscles were abraded and cleaned using 70% isopropyl alcohol solution prior to electrode placement. Bipolar surface electrodes (inter electrode distance: 10mm) were placed over the muscle bellies parallel to the muscle fibers using previously established standards [1,9,17,18]. The use of surface electrodes was chosen because they have been deemed to be a noninvasive technique that is able to reliably detect surface muscle activity [19][20][21].…”

“…We ran a non-parametric Friedman test followed by a post-hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For comparison purposes, low muscle activity was considered to be between 0-20% MVIC while moderate activity was 21-40%, high muscle activity was 41-60%, and very high activity was >60% [17,18,25,26].…”

Current Views of Scapular Dyskinesis and its Possible Clinical Relevance

“…Using motor control as the focus, previous reports have suggested employing an integrated approach where the patient is required to perform exercises from a sitting or standing position to perform (and learn) the necessary motor patterns that require integrated use of the majority of the kinetic chain segments (i.e., using the legs and trunk to facilitate scapular and shoulder movement and muscle activation). 41,47,[98][99][100][101] However, although these works have verified increased shoulder and scapular muscle activation when trunk and/or leg movements are integrated into the exercise maneuvers, there are no empirical reports or randomized control trials that have compared a motor control/ kinetic chain focused program against a program that does not utilize this approach.…”