Investigation of Muscular Activation Levels Around the Scapula and Shoulder in Exercises Which Body Weight is Carried

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Exercise Therapy; Shoulder; Electromyography; Exercise
• Interventions: Diagnostic Test: Clinical Tests; Other: MVIC measurements; Other: Exercises

• Registration Number: NCT05281900
• Lead Sponsor: Hacettepe University

Brief Summary

Closed kinetic chain (CKC) exercises are exercises in which body weight is carried on the distal segment. It is considered advantageous and reliable in many respects compared to open kinetic chain exercises (OKC). For the restoration of functional stability in shoulder rehabilitation, it is recommended to use CKC exercises that carry body weight from the early period. Plank exercise, which is frequently used to strengthen the core area in rehabilitation programs, is performed by transferring weight on the upper extremity. For this reason, it is thought that this exercise will provide an isometric load on the shoulder and scapula muscles. In many previous studies, it has been observed that scapular muscle activations also change with the changes in stability (support surface properties, etc.) in plank exercises and variations in a way that provides a more stable exercise environment. However, as the difficulty level of the used moving floor increased (using softer or unstable surfaces), it was seen that the increase in muscle activation levels was more in favor of the upper trapezius muscle (UT). In a study, it was observed that the UT / Middle Trapeze (MT), UT / Lower Trapezius (LT), UT / Serratus Anterior (SA) ratios were lower in the 3-point supported plank exercise performed on one hand. For this reason, it is thought that while the difficulty level of plank variations is increased in shoulder rehabilitation, body position changes will be more effective in maintaining optimal scapular muscle activation rates instead of using a moving floor. Based on this information, investigating the muscular activation levels for the scapular and shoulder girdle muscles during different variations of the plank exercise in terms of load levels in the targeted muscles will provide valuable information for the management of shoulder exercise programs and post-operative rehabilitation.

It was planned to include 21 healthy physically active individuals between the ages of 18-45 in the study. Muscle activation levels during maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of each muscle will be recorded to normalize muscle activation levels during plank variations. Muscle activation levels will be evaluated with a surface electromyography device (Noraxon, Myomotion, USA).

Detailed Description

Closed kinetic chain (CKC) exercises are exercises in which body weight is carried on the distal segment. It is considered advantageous and reliable in many respects compared to open kinetic chain exercises (OKC). For the restoration of functional stability in shoulder rehabilitation, it is recommended to use CKC exercises that carry body weight from the early period. Plank exercise, which is frequently used to strengthen the core area in rehabilitation programs, is performed by transferring weight on the upper extremity. For this reason, it is thought that this exercise will provide an isometric load on the shoulder and scapula muscles. In many previous studies, it has been observed that scapular muscle activations also change with the changes in stability (support surface properties, etc.) in plank exercises and variations in a way that provides a more stable exercise environment. However, as the difficulty level of the used moving floor increased (using softer or unstable surfaces), it was seen that the increase in muscle activation levels was more in favor of the upper trapezius muscle (UT). In a study, it was observed that the UT / Middle Trapeze (MT), UT / Lower Trapezius (LT), UT / Serratus Anterior (SA) ratios were lower in the 3-point supported plank exercise performed on one hand. For this reason, it is thought that while the difficulty level of plank variations is increased in shoulder rehabilitation, body position changes will be more effective in maintaining optimal scapular muscle activation rates instead of using a moving floor. Based on this information, investigating the muscular activation levels for the scapular and shoulder girdle muscles during different variations of the plank exercise in terms of load levels in the targeted muscles will provide valuable information for the management of shoulder exercise programs and post-operative rehabilitation.

It was planned to include 21 healthy physically active individuals between the ages of 18-45 in the study. Muscle activation levels during maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of each muscle will be recorded to normalize muscle activation levels during plank variations. Muscle activation levels will be evaluated with a surface electromyography device (Noraxon, Myomotion, USA).

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-12-23
• Study Start: 2022-01-12
• Status Verified: 2022-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-03-15
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-03-15
• Study First Posted: 2022-03-16
• Last Update Posted: 2022-03-16
• Primary Completion: 2022-06
• Study Completion: 2022-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 21

Inclusion Criteria

• Physically active participants,
• Having full range of motion of shoulder,
• Having a body mass index less than 30 kg\m2.

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Exclusion Criteria

• Exposure to repetitive overhead shoulder movements due to occupational or sports activities,
• Being symptomatic and positive in at least one of the Hawkins-Kennedy, Neer, Apprehension, Relocation test, Jobe test, and External Rotation Resistance tests,
• Having any injury and/or surgery in the last 6 months,
• Having a current complaint of pain in any part of the body,
• Being diagnosed with a rheumatic, systemic or neurological disease,

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Physically active volunteers	Clinical Tests	All volunteers who meet the inclusion criteria will be included in the study.
Physically active volunteers	MVIC measurements	All volunteers who meet the inclusion criteria will be included in the study.
Physically active volunteers	Exercises	All volunteers who meet the inclusion criteria will be included in the study.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Muscle activation ratio recorded with surface electromyography (sEMG)	2 hours for each participant	Electromyography is a measurement method that provides recording and analysis of signals from the central nervous system to the relevant muscle. In this study, muscle activations of the Upper Trapezius(UT), Middle Trapezius(MT), Lower Trapezius(LT), Serratus Anterior(SA), Biceps Brachii(BB), Triceps Brachii(TB) and Infraspinatus(IS) muscles during plank variations will be investigated. Muscle activation levels during maximum voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC) of the muscles will be recorded. The highest value in all repetations of MVIC measurements will be included in the analysis. Muscle activations will be recorded during 10 different plank variations after MVIC measurements. The average value of each repetition will be recorded as a result. As a result of the measurements, %MVIC values of UT, OT, AT, SA, BB, TB, IS, AD muscles and UT/AT, UT/SA, BB/TB, MD/IS activation rates will be calculated in each exercise.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hacettepe University; 🇹🇷 Ankara, Çankaya, Turkey