Comparison of Open Chain Kinetic Exercises and Forward Head Posture Correction on Scapular Symmetry and Glenohumeral Disability in Office Workers With Type II Scapular Dyskinesia

The scapula plays a crucial role in coordinating and maintaining complex shoulder kinematics. The rotator cuff (RC) and the scapula control energy and force transfer for glenohumeral (GH) and scapulothoracic (ST) movements. From a biomechanical perspective, the shoulder range of motion (ROM) covers almost 65% of a spherical joint whose stability is ensured by several factors such as bone integrity, muscle activity, and ligaments.The RC and scapula allow for three-dimensional movements of the shoulder by limiting excessive translations that may compromise the joint integrity.The overall prevalence of scapular dyskinesis was 90.08%, and the highest frequency was found at the resting position.

Association between ergonomic risk level and scapular dyskinesis in office workers in 2020. It was a cross sectional study A lateral scapular slide test (LSST) was used to evaluate scapular dyskinesis, and the quick exposure check (QEC) method was used to analyze the ergonomic risk level. results indicate that patients with scapular dyskinesis have a high ergonomic risk level.

A defective scapular posture, caused by muscular imbalances, also generates imbalances of length and muscular strength in the muscles, altering the mechanics of the glenohumeral joint. A forward bending of the scapula is associated with a retracted minor pectoral muscle and possibly anterior serratus weakness or trapezius. This scapular posture alters the humeral posture on the glenoid, assuming a relatively abducted and internally rotated position, resulting in retracted glenohumeral internal rotators and elongated or weak lateral rotators.

SW Christensen et al has stated in an article that the key group that might be related with scapular dyskinesis and work-related pain in office workers is the axioscapular muscles. These muscles attach between the scapula to the axis of the body consisted of serratus anterior, Pectoralis minor, rhomboids, levator scapulae and three parts of trapezius.

Study in 2016 in which the deeper lying (Levator Scapulae, Pectoralis Minor (Pm) and Rhomboid major) and superficial lying (Trapezius and Serratus Anterior) scapulothoracic muscles' activity was investigated with fine-wire and surface EMG, concluded that In the presence of idiopathic neck pain, higher Pectoralis minor activity during the towel wall slide was found. Patients with neck pain and scapular dyskinesis showed lower MT(middle trapezius) activity in comparison with healthy controls with scapular dyskinesis during scaption.

In 2018 The results showed high incidence of axioscapular muscle adaptations including of decreased flexibility of pectoralis minor, upper trapezius and levator scapulae in all subtypes as well as decreased performance of serratus anterior, middle trapezius, lower trapezius and rhomboids. The high incidence of postural deviations including forward head, rounded shoulder and thoracic hyper-kyphosis were also found in all subtypes of scapular dyskinesis. The participants were symptomatic office workers with different subtypes of scapular dyskinesis. They were evaluated the subtypes of scapular dyskinesis corresponded with flexibility of pectoralis minor, upper trapezius and levator scapulae using muscle length tests. The performances of serratus anterior, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius and rhomboids were also examined using manual muscle test. The postural deviations of cervical, shoulder and thoracic were also investigated using postural analysis methods.

Conventional therapeutic exercise programs are commonly used to treat patients with scapular dyskinesis. It is common for physical therapists to treat patients with shoulder pain and scapular dyskinesis. Treatment techniques to address dyskinesis include manual neuromuscular facilitation, tactile cueing, visual feedback, electrical stimulation, supervised exercise, mobilization, strengthening, electromyography, and other interventions.

An RCT in which eleven asymptomatic university students representing 15 scapulae with a positive Scapular Dyskinesis Test were recruited as subjects. Participants were randomized into exercise and electrical stimulation (ESTherex) or exercise and sham electrical stimulation (ShamTherex) and stated that Electrical stimulation with exercises for scapular dyskinesis showed improvements in spine to scapula distance at 120 degrees of shoulder abduction.

The literature has proved that shoulder stabilization training strengthens the scapular muscles, closed chain and open chain kinetic exercises are also beneficial thereby resolving the SD. But as FHP can lead to SD, among the correction of FHP or open chain kinetic exercises which one is more effective to treat SD type II it has not been compared before. There is also paucity of literature available on open chain kinetic exercises and forward head posture correction exercises on scapular symmetry and glenohumeral disability in office workers with type II scapular dyskinesis. Hence this study aims to compare the effect of open chain kinetic exercises and forward head posture correction on scapular symmetry and glenohumeral disability in office workers with type II Scapular dyskinesis.