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

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

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.85-92
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• 2013

PURPOSE : The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the length of the pectoralis minor on muscle activity of trapezius and pectoralis major in subjects in subjects with shortened pectoralis minor muscle. METHOD : The subjects was participated in 36 with shortened pectoralis minor muscle. All subjects was examined the length test of pectoralis minor muscle. we divided by 3 groups. group I(n=12) was for 4~5cm of length of pectoralis minor muscle, group II(n=12) was for 5~6cm, group III(n=12) was for above 6cm. The EMG activity of upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius and pectoralis major muscle activity was measured by surface EMG while elevationg the right arm in sitting postion with head to the neutral, shoulder elevation $135^{\circ}$ with scaption. Data were analyed using one-way ANOVA with a Tukey post hoc test. RESULT : The EMG activity differed significantly among the three groups(p<.05). The group III had significantly greater EMG activity of upper trapezius and pectoralis major muscles than group I and II(p<.05). Also, The group III had significantly smaller EMG activity of lower trapezius muscle than group I and II(p<.05). But, these was no significant difference in the EMG activity of the middle trapezius muscle among the groups (p.05). CONCLUSION : Therefore, the result of this study should be suggested that the shortened pectoralis minor muscle was affected the EMG activity of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius and pectoralis major. Ultimately the length of the pectoralis minor muscle leads to the muscle imbalance in shoulder girdle.

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

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.1868-1872
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• 2019

Background: Lower trapezius muscle function is important for the prevention and treatment of shoulder injuries. However, scapular posterior tilt movement has been overlooked in lower trapezius strengthening exercise programs. Objective: To examine the effects of prone arm lifting with scapular posterior tilt (PALSPT) on trapezius muscles. Design: Crossover study Methods: 17 healthy males were recruited for participation in this study. Participants performed backward rocking diagonal arm lifting (BRDAL) and PALSPT. To train participants in scapular posterior tilt movements for PALSPT, visual biofeedback of scapular movements was provided using a motion sensor. Electromyography (EMG) activities of the middle and lower trapezius were recorded using a surface EMG system. Differences in middle and lower trapezius muscle activity between BRDAL and PALSPT exercises were analyzed. Results: Lower trapezius muscle activity was significantly greater during PALSPT than during BRDAL (p=.006). Although greater EMG activity was observed in the middle trapezius during PALSPT than during BRDAL, this difference was not significant (p=.055). Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that scapular posterior tilt movements must be considered in lower trapezius muscle strengthening programs.

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

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of taping applied to the lower trapezius on the upper trapezius muscle tone, pain intensity, cervical rotation range of motion in chronic upper trapezius pain patients. Design: Case-control study. Methods: Twenty subjects with chronic upper trapezius pain were classified into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group applied lower trapezius facilitation taping and the control group applied sham taping. Taping Before and after the application of taping, muscle tone, pain intensity, and cervical rotation range of motion of the upper trapezius were measured. Results: In the experimental group, there were significant differences in the pressure pain threshold and muscle tone before and after taping. In the comparison between groups, there was a significant difference in muscle tone between the experimental group and the control group. Conclusion: The application of the lower trapezius facilitation taping was found to be effective in reducing the pressure threshold and muscle tone of the upper trapezius. Therefore, it is expected that more effective treatment can be provided by adding lower trapezius facilitation taping to the treatment protocol for patients with chronic shoulder pain.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.269-278
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate effective cueing methods for selective muscle activation of the serratus anterior. Methods: Based on the inclusion criteria, 26 healthy adults, both males and females, were recruited for the measurement of muscle activation of the upper trapezius and serratus anterior muscles while performing basic movements in knee push-up plus (KPP) and dynamic hug (DH) positions using five different cueing methods. An electromyogram was used to measure muscle activation, and both muscle activation and muscle ratio (serratus anterior/upper trapezius) were compared during the basic movements and different cueing methods. The cueing methods were trapezius verbal cueing, trapezius verbal cueing + trapezius tactile cueing, emphasis verbal cueing, serratus anterior tactile cueing, and trapezius verbal cueing + trapezius tactile cueing + serratus anterior tactile cueing. Results: The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in the muscles for the two exercises (p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference between the cueing methods (p < 0.05). The correlative effect between the muscles and cueing methods was also significant (p < 0.05). The muscle ratio in trapezius verbal cueing + trapezius tactile cueing + serratus anterior tactile cueing during KPP and DH was higher than in basic movements and other cueing methods. This confirms that trapezius verbal cueing + trapezius tactile cueing + serratus anterior tactile cueing is an effective cueing method for selective activation of the serratus anterior during KPP and DH. This study also demonstrated that cueing by a therapist may both increase and decrease selective muscle activation. Conclusion: Through this study, an effective cueing method to selectively activate the serratus anterior may be suggested, and the results of this study may provide basic information regarding future studies and clinical practice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.81-90
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• 2015

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle architecture of serratus anterior and lower trapezius using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) in affected and unaffected side of chronic stroke patients. METHODS: The participants were thirty five patients with stroke hemiplegia in this study. RUSI was used to measure the muscle thickness of the serratus anterior and lower trapezius muscles. We compared the muscle thickness according to affected side and sex, determined the reliability of the measurement image. Independent t-test, intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM) were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Significant difference in muscle thickness of serratus anterior was observed between affected and unaffected side (p<.001). Muscle thickness according to gender showed a significant difference in unaffected side of serratus anterior (p<.05). Compare asymmetry ratio of serratus anterior and lower trapezius muscle thickness showed a significant difference (p<.001). ICC for intra-reliability was .944~.962 in serratus anterior and .873~.925 in lower trapezius muscle thickness, respectively. SEM was .001~.004 in serratus anterior and .002~.008 in lower trapezius muscle. CONCLUSION: This study, using RUSI, showed significant difference in muscle thickness of serratus anterior in affected and unaffected side of stroke patients. RUSI is a practical tool for measuring soft-tissue thickness in the scapular region muscle of stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of trapezius and serratus anterior strengthening exercise on the shoulder pain and muscle activation of patients with spinal cord injury and functional shoulder impingement syndrome. Methods: The study consisted of 10 patients with spinal cord injury who were hospitalized in Rehabilitation Hospital U, Uijeongbu, South Korea. The exercise was implemented three times a week for 10 weeks. In each session, the subjects performed one of a total of five types of exercise at mid-level intensity. The shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) was used to evaluate the patients before and after the intervention. The muscle activation of the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and anterior serratus muscle was assessed by surface electromyography (EMG) at the beginning of the experiment and 10 weeks later. Wilcoxon's singed-rank test was conducted to determine differences in the pain index and muscle activation before and after the exercise. The level of statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: SPADI scores significantly decreased after the exercise (p<0.05). In comparisons of muscle activation, there was a significant improvement in the upper trapezius at $60^{\circ}$ shoulder joint flexion (p<0.05). There was no significant improvement at $90^{\circ}$ shoulder joint flexion. The middle trapezius showed a significant improvement at $120^{\circ}$ shoulder joint flexion (p<0.05). Conclusion: Trapezius and serratus anterior strengthening exercise reduced pain in spinal cord injury patients with functional shoulder impingement syndrome. The decreased muscle activation of upper trapezius and increased muscle activation of the anterior serratus muscle at $60^{\circ}$ shoulder joint flexion point to positive effects of the exercise on supraduction of the scapula.