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Shoulder Kinematics and Muscle Activation in Sport Climbers With Shoulder Pain

Completed
Conditions
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Interventions
Other: Arm elevation in the scapular plane
Other: Pull up with gymbar
Other: Pull up with fingerboard
Registration Number
NCT05139654
Lead Sponsor
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Brief Summary

Sport climbing has recently become a highly popular sport and was included in the Summer Olympic Games 2021. Shoulder injury accounts for 15 to 20 percent of all sport climbing injuries, and it is the third most common problems, only surpassed by wrist and hand injuries. Sport climbing involves both open and closed chain movements of upper limbs. These prolonged and repetitive movements on vertical or overhanging terrain may lead to overuse and fatigue, which result in injuries. Sport climbing consists of multiple movement elements. Pull up with small holds is a basic movement in sport climbing, and activates many shoulder muscles, including trapezius, serratus anterior, latissimus dorsi. Studies related to sport climbing have focused on observing difference between sport climbers and non-sport climbers. Altered posture, increased scapulohumeral rhythm during arm elevation, and decreased shoulder angle during one-arm hanging have been observed in sport climbers. However, little studies have investigated whether climbers with shoulder injuries demonstrate different shoulder kinematics and muscle activation during tasks related to sport climbing. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the shoulder kinematics and muscle activation during pull-up with small holds in sport climbers with and without shoulder pain. Methods. Thirty sport climbers with shoulder pain and 30 healthy control subjects matched with gender, age, dominant hand and experience will be recruited in this study. All subjects will undertake physical examinations such as shoulder range of motion (ROM). Shoulder kinematics and muscle activation will be collected during arm elevation in the scapular plane and pull-up with gym-bar and 20mm depth small climbing holds. An electromagnetic tracking system will be used to measure bilateral scapular and humerothoracic kinematics. Surface electromyography (EMG) will be used to record muscle activation of bilateral upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi. Demographic data and physical examination will be analyzed by independent t test or Chi-square test. Two-way ANOVA will be used to test differences between groups in kinematics and EMG data at different phases of tasks. If significant interaction effect is found, Post-hoc pairwise comparison with Bonferroni correction will be used. The significant level is set at 0.05.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Shoulder pain climbers groupPull up with gymbarSubjects with shoulder pain will be included to perform scaption and pull-up, and assess shoulder kinematics and muscle activation at the same time.
Shoulder pain climbers groupPull up with fingerboardSubjects with shoulder pain will be included to perform scaption and pull-up, and assess shoulder kinematics and muscle activation at the same time.
Healthy climbers groupArm elevation in the scapular planeHealthy subjects will be included to compare the differences in shoulder kinematics and muscle activation between healthy subjects and subjects with shoulder pain. Subjects in this group will received the same assessments as the shoulder pain climbers group.
Healthy climbers groupPull up with gymbarHealthy subjects will be included to compare the differences in shoulder kinematics and muscle activation between healthy subjects and subjects with shoulder pain. Subjects in this group will received the same assessments as the shoulder pain climbers group.
Shoulder pain climbers groupArm elevation in the scapular planeSubjects with shoulder pain will be included to perform scaption and pull-up, and assess shoulder kinematics and muscle activation at the same time.
Healthy climbers groupPull up with fingerboardHealthy subjects will be included to compare the differences in shoulder kinematics and muscle activation between healthy subjects and subjects with shoulder pain. Subjects in this group will received the same assessments as the shoulder pain climbers group.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Shoulder kinematics during pull-up with gym-barImmediately during the experiment

Scapular kinematics, including anterior/posterior tilt, upward/downward rotation, and internal/external rotation in pull-up, and will be described with degree (°).

Scapular muscles activation during pull-up with gym-barImmediately during the experiment

The root mean square of electromyography (EMG) data of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and latissimus dorsi will be normalized by the maximum voluntary contraction amplitude (percentage of maximal voluntary contraction, %).

Shoulder kinematics during arm elevationImmediately during the experiment

Scapular kinematics, including anterior/posterior tilt, upward/downward rotation, and internal/external rotation in scapular plane elevation at 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120°, and will be described with degree (°).

Scapular muscles activation during arm elevationImmediately during the experiment

The root mean square of electromyography (EMG) data of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and latissimus dorsi will be normalized by the maximum voluntary contraction amplitude (percentage of maximal voluntary contraction, %) and calculated over three 30° increments of motion during arm elevation from 30° to 120°, including 30° - 60°, 60° - 90°, and 90° - 120°.

Scapular muscles activation during pull-up with finger boardImmediately during the experiment

The root mean square of electromyography (EMG) data of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and latissimus dorsi will be normalized by the maximum voluntary contraction amplitude (percentage of maximal voluntary contraction, %).

Shoulder kinematics during pull-up with finger boardImmediately during the experiment

Scapular kinematics, including anterior/posterior tilt, upward/downward rotation, and internal/external rotation in pull-up, and will be described with degree (°).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Yang Ming University

🇨🇳

Taipei, Taiwan

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