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

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.

PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Patterson ◽  
Andrew D. Vigotsky ◽  
Nicole E. Oppenheimer ◽  
Erin H. Feser

Training the bench press exercise on a traditional flat bench does not induce a level of instability as seen in sport movements and activities of daily living. Twenty participants were recruited to test two forms of instability: using one dumbbell rather than two and lifting on the COR bench compared to a flat bench. Electromyography (EMG) amplitudes of the pectoralis major, middle trapezius, external oblique, and internal oblique were recorded and compared. Differences in range of motion (ROM) were evaluated by measuring an angular representation of the shoulder complex. Four separate conditions of unilateral bench press were tested while lifting on a: flat bench with one dumbbell, flat bench with two dumbbells, COR Bench with one dumbbell, and COR Bench with two dumbbells. The results imply that there are no differences in EMG amplitude or ROM between the COR bench and traditional bench. However, greater ROM was found to be utilized in the single dumbbell condition, both in the COR bench and the flat bench.


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 ◽  
...  

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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 1441-1454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridget Walsh ◽  
Anne Smith

Purpose In this study, the authors determined whether basic patterns of muscle activation for speech were similar in preschool children who stutter and in their fluent peers. Method Right and left lower lip muscle activity were recorded during conversational speech and sentence repetition in 64 preschool children diagnosed as stuttering (CWS) and in 40 children who do not stutter (CWNS). Measures of electromyography (EMG) amplitude, right–left asymmetry, and bilateral coordination were computed for fluent speech. The potential presence of tremor-like oscillations during disfluencies of CWS was assessed, and EMG amplitudes of fluent and disfluent speech were compared in CWS. Results Across both speaking tasks, lip muscle activation was similar in CWS and CWNS in overall amplitude, bilateral synchrony, and degree of right–left asymmetry. EMG amplitude was reduced during disfluent compared with fluent conversational speech of CWS, and there was no evidence of tremor in the disfluencies of CWS. Conclusion These results support the assertion that stuttering in young children arises not from basic features of muscle contraction but rather from the command signals that control the timing and amplitude of muscle activity. The results indicate that no frank abnormality is present in muscle activation patterns in preschoolers who stutter.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-13
Author(s):  
Taylor Meier ◽  
Brice Snyder ◽  
Jennifer W. Cuchna ◽  
Johanna M. Hoch

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 274-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fran Vanderstukken ◽  
Dorien Borms ◽  
Kelly Berckmans ◽  
Valentien Spanhove ◽  
Ann M. Cools

Context The shoulder joint and girdle are highly loaded during field hockey play. To optimize performance and to better substantiate preventive programs, it is important to gain insight into shoulder-girdle muscle function and balance in this athlete population. Objective To evaluate relative scapular muscle-activity ratios through surface electromyography during maximal isokinetic strength testing in elite male field hockey players compared with nonathletes. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Institutional laboratory. Patients or Other Participants Twenty-five elite field hockey players from the Belgian National Team and 25 age- and sex-matched nonathletes. Intervention(s) We measured bilateral activity in 4 scapular muscles (upper trapezius [UT], middle trapezius [MT], lower trapezius [LT], and serratus anterior [SA]) during an external-internal rotation and protraction-retraction isokinetic shoulder protocol. Main Outcome Measure(s) Relative scapular muscle-activity ratios, or balance ratios, of the UT : MT, UT : LT, UT : SA, SA : MT, and SA : LT. Results We noted lower ratios bilaterally in the athlete group compared with the control group for the UT : MT, UT : LT, and SA : MT ratios during protraction, retraction, and external rotation, respectively, and unilaterally (dominant side only) for the UT : LT ratio during protraction. No consistent trend was present for established side differences in the studied balance ratios. Conclusions Compared with nonathletes, elite field hockey players had altered intramuscular (within the trapezius) and intermuscular (between the trapezius and SA) balance ratios during maximal shoulder-girdle contractions, with relatively more MT and LT activity. This may reflect a sport-specific adaptation to optimize coordinated activity of the scapulothoracic muscles, meeting the specific demands of field hockey movements and simultaneously better protecting the shoulder against injury. Our results can assist in optimizing high-performance training and in supporting injury-prevention programs, which are key to both successful and long-lasting athletic careers.


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 ◽  
...  

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-395
Author(s):  
Soojin Kim ◽  
Joo-Hyun Lee ◽  
Jihye Heo ◽  
Eunwook Chang

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare thigh muscle activities and muscle co-activation when performing squats, wall squats, and Spanish squats on stable and unstable ground.METHODS: Twenty-two healthy male subjects (age: 22.50±2.70 years, height: 178.72±6.04 cm, mass: 76.50±6.80 kg, body mass index: 24.00±2.10 kg/m2, and Godin activity questionnaire: 56.30±24.10) voluntarily participated in the study. All of the participants performed three different squat exercises on the floor and the BOSU ball with an electromyograph attached to each participant’s quadriceps (rectus femoris, RF; vastus lateralis, VL; and vastus medialis, VM) and hamstrings (biceps femoris, BF; semitendinosus, ST; and semimembranosus, SM). Repeated measures of analysis of variance were utilized to compare muscle activity during the three squats exercises by floor type.RESULTS: RF (p<.001, η2=.689), VL (p<.001, η2=.622), and VM (p=.002, η2=.375) showed significant differences between exercises. Spanish squats yielded greater BF activity than did wall squats (p=.018, η2=.269). ST yielded greater muscle activity with the BOSU ball than on the floor (p=.018, η2=.269). Finally, there was a significant ground exercise interaction effect on the co-activation, showing greater muscle co-activation with Spanish squats on the BOSU ball compared to squats, squats on the BOSU ball, and wall squat on the BOSU ball.CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate that Spanish squats could be an effective exercise option for the facilitation of RF, VL, VM, and BF muscle activation. In particular, performing Spanish squats on an unstable surface could be useful for patients who need to improve their quadriceps muscle activation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 036354652110250
Author(s):  
Kelly R. Berckmans ◽  
Birgit Castelein ◽  
Dorien Borms ◽  
Thierry Parlevliet ◽  
Ann Cools

Background: Scapular muscle activity during shoulder exercises has been explored with surface electromyography (EMG). However, knowledge about the activity of deeper-layer scapular muscles is still limited. Purpose: To investigate EMG activation of the deeper-layer scapular stabilizers (levator scapulae [LS], rhomboid major [RM], pectoralis minor [Pm] muscles) together with superficial muscle activity (upper [UT], middle [MT], and lower trapezius [LT] and serratus anterior [SA]) during 4 exercises often used for training scapular function. Based on the amplitude EMG of the deeper-layer muscles, scapular muscle activation ratios for the 4 exercises were calculated, hereby providing knowledge of the optimal muscle balance. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: A total of 26 healthy participants performed 4 shoulder exercises (side-lying external rotation [ER], side-lying forward flexion, prone horizontal abduction with ER, and prone extension) while simultaneously measuring scapular muscle activity. Intramuscular electrodes were used for the deeper layer, in contrast to surface electrodes for the superficial muscles. All data were normalized to percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC), and the activation ratios (the muscle activity of the deeper layer relative to the other muscles) were calculated. A 1-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction was applied for statistical analysis. Results: Moderate activity was found in all exercises for the LS and RM (25%-45% MVIC). The Pm resulted in low activity during both side-lying exercises (13%-18% MVIC). Ratios involving LS or RM showed values >1 for all exercises (1.28-12.41) except for LS/MT, LS/LT, and LS/RM (0.85-0.98) during side-lying ER, and LS/MT, RM/MT and RM/LS (0.85-0.99) during side-lying forward flexion. Likewise, values <1 were found when MT (0.85) and LS (0.99) were involved with RM in the numerator during side-lying forward flexion. Ratios with Pm in the numerator showed values <1, apart from the ratios with UT and SA in the denominator. Conclusion: The study provides extended knowledge about the deeper-layer scapular muscle activity and related ratios during the 4 shoulder exercises mentioned here. Putting theory into practice, based on our results, we advise both side-lying exercises to be performed to strengthen LT and MT, even in case of hyperactivity of the Pm. However, the 4 exercises should be given carefully to patients with hyperactivity in the LS and/or RM. Clinical Relevance: The findings of this study may assist clinical decision making in exercise selection for restoring scapular function.


Author(s):  
Ki-Jae SONG ◽  
Jin-Ho YOON ◽  
Jae-Keun OH

Background: We aimed to demonstrate the effect of 8 wk of scapular kinetic-chain exercise on muscle activity in collegiate baseball players diagnosed with scapular dyskinesis. Methods: The subjects were career baseball players with at least a 7-year career assigned into either a SICK (S; scapular malposition, I; inferior border prominence, C; coracoid process pain, K; scapular dyskinesis; n=7) group or a normal group (n=16), respectively. The groups were further divided into SICK-Dominant, SICKNon-Dominant, Normal-Dominant, and Normal-Non-Dominant to examine the dominant and non-dominant deviation of each group. Twenty-three subjects finally recruited through the Sports Science Institute of Korea National Sport University, Seoul, Korea in Sep 2014. Subjects were only allowed drug treatment for acute injuries during matches or training, and matches, training, and diet were controlled by university dormitory life. Results: There was a significant increase in maximal muscular activation (MA) in elevation motion of NormalDominant upper trapezii (UT), mean MA of SICK-Dominant UT, and mean MA of SICK-Dominant lower trapezii (LT) (P<0.05). In depression motion, the mean MAs of SICK-Dominant, Normal-Dominant, and Normal-Non-Dominant UT were significantly increased (P<0.05). The maximal MA of Normal-Dominant LT was significantly increased (P=0.029), and the SICK-Dominant and Normal-Dominant groups showed significantly higher maximal and mean MAs after exercise compared with the Normal-Non-Dominant group (P<0.05). The maximal MA of SICK-Dominant musculi serratus anterior was significantly lower than NormalDominant at pre-test (P=0.034), and the mean MA of SICK-Dominant musculi serratus anterior differed from Normal-Dominant and Normal-Non-Dominant (P<0.05) before testing, but only from Normal-Non-Dominant after testing (P=0.031). Conclusion: Scapular kinetic-chain exercise improved muscle activation in both overhead-pitching players with scapular dyskinesis and normal players.


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