Serratus Anterior Muscle Activation During Different Push-up Exercises: A Critically Appraised Topic

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-13
Author(s):  
Taylor Meier ◽  
Brice Snyder ◽  
Jennifer W. Cuchna ◽  
Johanna M. Hoch
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Weight Bearing ◽  
Full Weight Bearing ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
Clinical Question ◽  
Serratus Anterior ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction ◽  
Unstable Surface ◽  
Push Up

Clinical Question:In a healthy adult population, which push-up position produces the greatest mean serratus anterior (SA) activation, expressed as a percentage of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)?Clinical Bottom Line:In a healthy population, there is moderate evidence to support the use of the standard push-up on an unstable surface, elbow push-ups on stable and unstable surfaces, wall push-ups on an unstable surface, the full weight-bearing position using the Cuff Link system, and all three hand positions (shoulder width, wide base, and narrow base) with and without the use of the Perfect Pushup™ handgrips for the purpose of SA strengthening. These exercises produced a mean SA activation of at least 50% of the MVIC in the four cross-sectional studies that were reviewed for this critically appraised topic.

Shoulder Muscle Activation Levels During the Push-Up-Plus Exercise on Stable and Unstable Surfaces

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafaela J.B. Torres ◽  
André L.T. Pirauá ◽  
Vinícius Y.S. Nascimento ◽  
Priscila S. dos Santos ◽  
Natália B. Beltrão ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Biceps Brachii ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Triceps Brachii ◽  
Serratus Anterior ◽  
Upper Trapezius ◽  
Unstable Surface ◽  
Hands And Feet ◽  
Push Up

The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effect of the use of stable and unstable surfaces on electromyography (EMG) activity and coactivation of the scapular and upper-limb muscles during the push-up plus (with full protraction of the scapula). Muscle activation of anterior deltoid (AD), posterior deltoid (PD), pectoralis major, biceps brachii (BB), triceps brachii (TB), upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) levels and coactivation index were determined by surface EMG in 20 young men during push-up plus performed on a stable and unstable condition (2 unstable devices applied to hands and feet). The paired t test and Cohen d were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that during the execution of the push-up plus on the unstable surface an increased EMG activity of the scapular stabilizing muscles (SA, MT, and LT) was observed, while AD and PD muscles showed a decrease. During exercise execution on the unstable surface there was a higher index of coactivation of the scapular muscles (SA–MT and UT–LT pairs). No significant differences were observed in TB–BB and AD–PD pairs. These results suggest that the push-up-plus exercise associated with unstable surfaces produced greater EMG activity levels and coactivation index of the scapular stabilizing muscle. On the other hand, the use of an unstable surface does not promote the same effect for the shoulder muscles.

Ankle Dorsiflexion Promotes Irradiation of Ipsilateral Quadriceps Musculature in a Healthy Population

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Emily Lahne ◽  
Grace Golden ◽  
Shelley W. Linens
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Ankle Dorsiflexion ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
Clinical Question ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Initial Stage

Clinical Question: Does ankle dorsiflexion promote irradiation of ipsilateral lower extremity musculature during a maximal isometric quadriceps contraction task in a healthy population? Clinical Bottom Line: There is preliminary evidence supporting the use of active ankle dorsiflexion during isometric quadriceps exercises to promote increased quadriceps activation and force production. As isometric quadriceps exercises are often included in initial stage rehabilitation, increasing muscle activation and force production may be beneficial.

scholarly journals Electromyographical Comparison of Four Common Shoulder Exercises in Unstable and Stable Shoulders

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Sciascia ◽  
Nina Kuschinsky ◽  
Arthur J. Nitz ◽  
Scott D. Mair ◽  
Tim L. Uhl
Keyword(s):  
Rotator Cuff ◽  
High Activity ◽  
Shoulder Instability ◽  
Glenohumeral Joint ◽  
External Rotation ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Moderate Activity ◽  
Serratus Anterior ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction ◽  
Push Up

This study examines if electromyographic (EMG) amplitude differences exist between patients with shoulder instability and healthy controls performing scaption, prone horizontal abduction, prone external rotation, and push-up plus shoulder rehabilitation exercises. Thirty nine subjects were categorized by a single orthopedic surgeon as having multidirectional instability (n=10), anterior instability (n=9), generalized laxity (n=10), or a healthy shoulder (n=10). Indwelling and surface electrodes were utilized to measure EMG activity (reported as a % of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)) in various shoulder muscles during 4 common shoulder exercises. The exercises studied effectively activated the primary musculature targeted in each exercise equally among all groups. The serratus anterior generated high activity (50–80% MVIC) during a push-up plus, while the infraspinatus and teres major generated moderate-to-high activity (30–80% MVIC) during both the prone horizontal and prone external rotation exercises. Scaption exercise generated moderate activity (20–50% MVIC) in both rotator cuff and scapular musculature. Clinicians should feel confident in prescribing these shoulder-strengthening exercises in patients with shoulder instability as the activation levels are comparable to previous findings regarding EMG amplitudes and should improve the dynamic stabilization capability of both rotator cuff and scapular muscles using exercises designed to address glenohumeral joint instability.

Serratus anterior muscle activation during knee push-up plus exercise performed on static stable, static unstable, and oscillating unstable surfaces in healthy subjects

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si-hyun Kim ◽  
Oh-yun Kwon ◽  
Su-jung Kim ◽  
Kyue-nam Park ◽  
Sung-dae Choung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Serratus Anterior Muscle ◽  
Serratus Anterior ◽  
Push Up

scholarly journals Shoulder electromyography activity during push-up variations: a scoping review

2021 ◽  
pp. 175857322110193
Author(s):  
Katie L Kowalski ◽  
Denise M Connelly ◽  
Jennifer M Jakobi ◽  
Jackie Sadi
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Shoulder Girdle ◽  
Serratus Anterior ◽  
Rehabilitation Outcomes ◽  
Emg Amplitude ◽  
Unstable Surface ◽  
Closed Chain ◽  
Hands On

Background Push-ups (PU) are a common closed chain exercise used to enhance shoulder girdle stability, with variations that alter the difficulty or target specific muscles. To appropriately select and prescribe PU exercises, an understanding of muscle activity during variations of the PU is needed. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify common PU variations and describe their muscle activation levels. Methods Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus for articles published between January 2000 and November 2019. Results Three hundred three articles were screened for eligibility with 30 articles included in the analysis. Six PU types and five muscles met the criteria for analysis. Weighted mean electromyography (EMG) amplitude was calculated for each muscle across PU types and for each PU type as a measure of global muscle activity. Triceps and pectoralis major had the highest EMG amplitude during unstable, suspension, incline with hands on a ball and the standard PU. Serratus anterior had the highest EMG amplitude during PU plus and incline PU. The greatest global EMG amplitude occurred during unstable surface PU. Discussion These results provide clinicians with a framework for prescribing PU to target specific muscles and scale exercise difficulty to facilitate rehabilitation outcomes.

Shoulder Muscle Activation Levels During Exercises With Axial and Rotational Load on Stable and Unstable Surfaces

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinícius Yan Santos Nascimento ◽  
Rafaela Joyce Barbosa Torres ◽  
Natália Barros Beltrão ◽  
Priscila Soares dos Santos ◽  
André Luiz Torres Pirauá ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Bench Press ◽  
Biceps Brachii ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Triceps Brachii ◽  
Serratus Anterior ◽  
Upper Trapezius ◽  
Unstable Surface ◽  
Lower Trapezius ◽  
Rotational Load

This study evaluated the effects of instability on the EMG activity of scapular stabilizing and upper limb muscles during exercises with axial and rotational load. Twenty male volunteers (20.9 ± 1.8 years, 174.1 ± 0.04 cm, 73.17 ± 8.77 kg) experienced in strength training participated in a crossover design. Muscle activation of anterior deltoid (AD), posterior deltoid (PD), pectoralis major (PM), biceps brachii (BB), triceps brachii (TB), upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) were determined on both conditions. Participants performed a single series of 10 repetitions of bench press and fly exercises on stable (bench) and unstable (proprioceptive disc) conditions at 60% of 1-RM. The Friedman test and post hoc Dunn’s indicated that the unstable condition showed greater EMG activity for AD (P = .001) and BB (P = .002) on the fly exercise, SA (P = .001) and LT (P = .048) on the bench press, and PM (P ≤ .002) on both exercises. These results show that using an unstable surface in exercises with rotational load provides superior EMG activity of the agonist muscles, while in exercise with axial load, the instability favors EMG activity of the scapular stabilizing muscles.

Use of unstable surfaces and conscious abdominal contraction on the activity of periscapular muscles

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Fernanda Lenise Soares Ferreira ◽  
Valéria Mayaly Alves de Oliveira ◽  
Michelle Ribeiro Santos ◽  
Vinícius Yan Santos Nascimento ◽  
Ana Carolina Rodarti Pitangui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Muscles ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Serratus Anterior ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs ◽  
Unstable Surface ◽  
External Oblique ◽  
Lower Trapezius ◽  
Internal Oblique ◽  
Electromyographic Signals ◽  
Push Up

Background/aims Core training has been recommended in shoulder rehabilitation programs. However, the evidence on this topic is still scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of conscious abdominal contraction combined with unstable surfaces on electromyographic activity of periscapular muscles during the plus phase of a push-up. Methods A total of 20 male participants (22.8 ± 2.5 years) were evaluated. Electromyographic signals were collected from the upper, middle and lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and external and internal oblique muscles during push-up exercises on a stable and unstable surface with and without the conscious abdominal contraction. Each participant performed four variations of the plus phase of a push-up. Results The results demonstrated that the conscious abdominal contraction caused an increase in the electromyographic activity of external oblique, internal oblique, serratus anterior and lower trapezius muscles (P≤0.008). The unstable surface caused only a relevant increase in electromyographic activity of the abdominal muscles (P≤0.025). Combining the two strategies did not increase the electromyographic activity of any muscles (P≥0.238). Conclusions The conscious abdominal contraction seems to be a viable strategy to increase the electromyographic activity of the periscapular muscles.

Effects of Push-Up Exercise Phase and Surface Stability on Activation of the Scapulothoracic Musculature

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 34-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Se-yeon Park ◽  
Won-gyu Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Support Surface ◽  
Triceps Brachii ◽  
Serratus Anterior ◽  
Surface Stability ◽  
Upper Trapezius ◽  
Unstable Support ◽  
Support Surfaces ◽  
Lower Trapezius ◽  
Push Up

Objective:The purpose of this study was to measure muscle activation during ascending and descending phases of the push-up exercise on both stable and unstable support surfaces.Participants:Fourteen asymptomatic male amateur badminton players. During push-up exercises on stable and unstable bases, muscle activation measurements were collected with phase divisions (ascending and descending phase).Methods:Electromyography (EMG) was utilized to measure activation of the upper trapezius (UT) and lower trapezius (LT), middle serratus anterior (MSA) and lower serratus anterior (LSA), pectoralis major (PM), and triceps brachii (TB) muscles.Results:An unstable support surface produced significantly greater activation of the UT, LT, LSA, and PM muscles than a stable support surface (p < 0.05). The MSA, LSA, TB, and PM muscles demonstrated greater activation during the ascending phase than the descending phase of the push-up exercise (p < 0.05).Conclusions:The unstable support surface appeared to produce relatively greater activation of the LSA than that of the MSA. The descending phase of the push-up did not demonstrate a higher level of activation for any of the muscles tested.

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