Active Scapular Retraction and Acromiohumeral Distance at Various Degrees of Shoulder Abduction

• Published in: Journal of athletic training Vol. 53; no. 6; pp. 584 - 589
• Main Authors: Harput, Gulcan, Guney-Deniz, Hande, Düzgün, İrem, Toprak, Uğur, Michener, Lori A, Powers, Christopher M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Athletic Trainers Association 01-06-2018
• Subjects: Adult; Correlation; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Analysis; Error of Measurement; Exercise Therapy - methods; Factor Analysis; Female; Humans; Male; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Outcome Measures; Range of Motion, Articular; Scapula - diagnostic imaging; Scapula - physiopathology; Shoulder; Shoulder - diagnostic imaging; Shoulder - physiopathology; Shoulder Impingement Syndrome - diagnosis; Shoulder Impingement Syndrome - physiopathology; Shoulder Impingement Syndrome - rehabilitation; Shoulder Joint - diagnostic imaging; Shoulder Joint - physiopathology; Statistical Analysis; Translation; Ultrasonography - methods; exercise; rehabilitation; subacromial space; shoulder joint; ultrasound
• ISSN: 1062-6050; 1938-162X
• DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-318-17

Performing shoulder-abduction exercises with scapular retraction has been theorized to reduce the potential for shoulder impingement. However, objective data to support this premise are lacking.
  To evaluate the influence of active scapular retraction on acromiohumeral distance (AHD) at 4 shoulder-abduction angles using real-time ultrasound.
  Cross-sectional study.
  University laboratory.
  Twenty asymptomatic individuals (10 men, 10 women; age = 22.9 ± 2.8 years, height = 169.3 ± 9.5 cm, mass = 65.5 ± 12.9 kg) were recruited.
  Real-time ultrasound images of AHD were obtained during nonretracted and retracted scapular conditions at 0°, 45°, 60°, and 90° of shoulder abduction. A 2-factor analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to evaluate the influence of shoulder retraction on AHD across shoulder-abduction angles.
  A scapular-retraction condition × shoulder-abduction-angle interaction for AHD was found ( F
= 4.56, P = .006). The AHD was smaller at 0° (10.5 versus 11.2 mm, respectively; t
= 2.22, P = .04) but larger at 90° (9.4 versus 8.7 mm, respectively; t
= -2.30, P = .04) of shoulder abduction during the retracted than the nonretracted condition. No differences in AHD were observed between conditions at 45° ( t
= 1.45, P = .16) and 60° ( t
= 1.17, P = .86) of abduction.
  The observed differences in AHD at 0° and 90° of shoulder abduction were small and did not exceed the established minimal detectable change for either angle. Our findings suggest that active scapular retraction during shoulder abduction has a minimal influence on AHD at 0° and 90° in healthy individuals. Further investigations are needed to determine whether scapular retraction influences AHD in individuals with subacromial impingement.