Comparison of shoulder stabilizer muscle activations during push up plus exercise by with cervical flexion and extension

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to analyze the activation of the muscles around the shoulder in relation to the cervical flexion and extension during the push-up plus exercise in order to provide the fundamental data to establish the posture that can maximize the effect of the shoulder stabilizer exercise. [Subjects] The subjects of the experiment were 18 healthy people, male adults in their age of twenties with normal ROM and without musculoskeletal disease at the shoulder complex and upper limb. [Methods] Muscular activity of the shoulder stabilizer muscles in cervical flexion and extension and the neutral position were measured by electromyogramphy (EMG). [Results] The muscle activations among the cervical positions were compared and the results showed that there were a significant differences for the serratus anterior muscle, sternocleidomastoid muscle, cervical paraspinalis muscle and pectoralis major muscle. [Conclusion] These results show that different shoulder stabilizers are activated during the push-up plus exercise depending on not only the location of the neck but also the internal or external rotation and abduction/ adduction angle of the shoulder joint, suggesting that establishment of an accurate position for the strengthening of each muscle is necessary.