RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Electromyographic analysis of knee push up plus variations: what is the influence of the kinetic chain on scapular muscle activity?
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 1010
OP 1015
DO 10.1136/bjsm.2009.062810
VO 44
IS 14
A1 A Maenhout
A1 K Van Praet
A1 L Pizzi
A1 M Van Herzeele
A1 A Cools
YR 2010
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/44/14/1010.abstract
AB Objective First, to look for appropriate closed kinetic chain exercises to restore intramuscular imbalance between upper trapezius (UT) and serratus anterior (SA) in overhead athletes. Second, to determine the influence of using diagonal pattern muscle recruitment during knee push up plus (KPP) exercises on scapular electromyographic activity. Design Single group repeated-measures design. Setting Controlled laboratory study. Participants Thirty-two physically active individuals in good general health who did not have a history of neck and/or shoulder injury or surgery nor participated in high-level overhead sports or performed upper limb strength training for more than 5 h/week. Interventions Subjects performed the standard KPP and six variations. Main outcome measurements Electromyographic activity of the three trapezius parts and the SA. Results Four exercises with a low UT/SA can be selected for rehabilitation of intramuscular balance: standard KPP, KPP with homolateral leg extension, KPP with a wobble board and homolateral leg extension and one-handed KPP. The use of a wobble board during KPP exercises and performance on one hand has no influence on SA electromyographic activity. Heterolateral leg extension during KPP stimulates lower trapezius activity, whereas homolateral leg extension stimulates SA activity. Conclusions In case of intramuscular scapular imbalance, some exercises are preferable over others because of their low UT/SA ratio. The use of a kinetic chain approach during KPP exercises influences scapular muscle activity.