Scapular Dyskinesia: Difference between revisions

("Manually Assisted Movements of Scapula" is updated.)
("Assessment of Surrounding Structures" is updated.)
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==='''Assessment of Surrounding Structures'''===
==='''Assessment of Surrounding Structures'''===
The structures around the scapula (thoracic spine, the acromioclavicular joint, rotator cuff muscles, two heads of the biceps, and the glenoid labrum) are assessed. It is important to assess these structures thoroughly in order to exclude or confirm alternative causes of the symptoms.  The assessor is looking for symptoms (pain, loss of function) in other structures, soft tissue laxity, and muscle power. <ref name=":7">Kilber WB, Sciascia A (2010) Current concepts: scapular dyskinesis. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 44, 300–305. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]</ref>
To exclude or confirm alternative causes of the symptoms the examiner should assess the structures around the scapula such as the thoracic spine, the acromioclavicular joint, rotator cuff muscles, the biceps and the glenoid labrum in terms of pain, loss of function, soft tissue laxity and muscle power.


The sternoclavicular (SC) and acromioclavicular (AC) joints should be evaluated for instability, and the clavicle should be evaluated for angulation, shortening, or malrotation. Anterior-posterior (AP) laxity of the AC joint is evaluated clinically by stabilizing the clavicle with one hand while grasping and mobilizing the acromion in an AP direction with the other hand. <ref name=":11">Kibler BW, Sciascia A, Wilkes T. Scapular dyskinesis and its relation to shoulder injury. JAAOS-journal of the American academy of orthopaedic surgeons. 2012 Jun 1;20(6):364-72.</ref>
The clavicle should be assessed for angulation, shortening or malrotation. The sternoclavicular (SC) and acromioclavicular (AC) joints should be evaluated for instability. The AC joint can be assessed for anterior-posterior (AP) laxity by stabilizing the clavicle with one hand while grasping and mobilizing the acromion in an AP direction with the other hand. <ref name=":7">Kilber WB, Sciascia A (2010) Current concepts: scapular dyskinesis. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 44, 300–305. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]</ref><ref name=":11">Kibler BW, Sciascia A, Wilkes T. Scapular dyskinesis and its relation to shoulder injury. JAAOS-journal of the American academy of orthopaedic surgeons. 2012 Jun 1;20(6):364-72.</ref>


The infraspinatus strength test showed good reliability to assess infraspinatus weakness due to SD. <ref name=":2" />
The infraspinatus strength test showed good reliability to assess infraspinatus weakness due to SD. <ref name=":2" />

Revision as of 15:26, 23 April 2023

This article is currently under review and may not be up to date. Please come back soon to see the finished work! (14/04/2023)

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Scapular dyskinesia (often used interchangeably with scapular dyskinesis/dysrhythmia) is a physical impairment with abnormal mobility or function of the scapula. [1][2][3]

Although scapular winging has been used instead of scapular dyskinesis, scapular winging is a condition that results in dyskinesis where the scapula elevates from the chest wall usually as a result of serratus anterior/ trapezius dysfunction. [4][5] [6]

Scapular dyskinesis (SD) can be seen in healthy people, overhead athletes or patients with shoulder pathology. The most frequent shoulder pathologies seen in SD are rotator cuff disease, glenohumeral instability, impingement syndrome, and labral tears. [7] [8]

Scapular Biomechanics[edit | edit source]

© Primal Pictures

The movement of scapula can be divided into 3 motions and 2 translations.

The motions are:

  1. Upward/downward rotation
  2. Internal/ external rotation
  3. Anterior/posterior tilt

The translations are:

  1. Upward/downward sliding on the thorax
  2. Medial/lateral sliding around the curvature of the thorax


Common patterns of the scapula are called scapular retraction (external rotation, posterior tilt, upward rotation and medial translation), protraction (internal rotation, anterior tilt, downward rotation and lateral translation), and shrug (upward translation, anterior tilt, and internal rotation). [9][10]

Upward rotation is primary and posterior tilt is secondary during normal overhead UE elevation with internal/external rotation being minimal until 100°. [11][12]

A review of the normal ratio of glenohumeral (GH) to scapulothoracic (ST) motion analyzed by Doody et al [13] under three-dimensional analysis found that the ratio of GH to ST motion changes from 7.3: 1 in the first 30° of elevation to 0.78: 1 between 90 and 150°. Bagg and Forrest found a ratio of 4.4:1 during the early phase and 1.7:1 within 80 to 140° of shoulder elevation. [14]

The altered mechanics in SD are increased scapular anterior tilt, increased scapular internal rotation, and altered scapular upward rotation. [15]

Etiology[edit | edit source]

The causes of scapular dyskinesis can be split into three groups:

  1. Shoulder-related;
  2. Neck-related;
  3. Posture-related. [16]


1. Shoulder related: The most common pathologies that are associated with SD are acromioclavicular instability, shoulder impingement, rotator cuff injuries, glenoid labrum injuries, clavicle fractures and nerve-related. [17][10]

Also, the soft tissues around the shoulder can cause altered scapular mechanics. [18] For example, inflexibility of the pectoralis minor and short head of the biceps muscles create anterior tilt and protraction by their pull on the coracoid. [19] Or, stiffness of the posterior aspect of the glenohumeral capsule can cause the alteration of the scapula position to anteriorly in resting, a similar pattern to shoulder impingement. [12]

2. Neck-related: Two types of neck pathologies can affect the shoulder: “mechanical neck pain” syndromes and cervical nerve root-related syndromes. [16]

3. Posture-related: Abnormal postures that alter the resting position of the scapula are excessive thoracic kyphosis and cervical lordosis, which are the changes that athletes are more tend to show. [20]

Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]

Scapular dyskinesis can be symptomatic, but it is also highly prevelant in the absence of shoulder symptoms. [21]

Symptomatic patients can develop "SICK" scapula which is an acronym described by Burkhart et al [22] as refers to scapular malpositioning, inferior medial border prominence, coracoid pain and malposition, and dyskinesis of scapular movement.

The symptoms of a patient with an isolated SICK scapula can be anterior shoulder pain, posterosuperior scapular pain, superior shoulder pain, proximal lateral arm pain, or any combination of those. Posterosuperior scapular pain may radiate into the ipsilateral para spinous cervical region or the patient may complain of radicular/thoracic outlet-type symptoms in the affected arm, forearm, and hand or a combination of the above. [22]

Clinical Examination[edit | edit source]

There is no standard clinical assessment of SD. However, some clinical tests and measures have proven to be reliable. [8][23]

Determining The Presence or Absence of Dyskinesia[edit | edit source]

A good screening tool for the presence of SD is the yes/no method that categorizes abnormal shoulder types I, II, and III (defined by Kibler's classification and characterised by inferior angle prominence, medial border prominence, and excessive superior border elevation in order) of SD into the “yes” category and type IV (symmetric scapular motion, no evidence of abnormality in the resting position or dynamic motions) into the “no” category. [24][25][26]

Manually Assisted Movements of Scapula[edit | edit source]

This step consists of two tests: The Scapular Assistance Test (SAT) and The Scapular Reposition (Retraction) Test (SRT). These tests, in which manual assistance is applied to the scapula, are provocation tests that evaluate the role of the scapula position in shoulder pain. [27]

While performing SAT the patient asked to elevate the arm in the sagittal plane and rate the shoulder pain on the 11-point numerical pain rating scale. Then, asked to do the same while the examiner pushes upward and laterally on the inferior angle, and pulls the superior aspect of the scapula (for producing posterior tilt). A decrease in shoulder pain of two or more points after assisted motion is considered a positive test. Usually, it is positive in patients with painful arc or shoulder impingement. There are no false positives in asymptomatic patients. [28][29][30][31][32]

The SRT is described by Kibler et al [33] to establish the effect of scapular retraction stabilization on the improvement of supraspinatus strength deficits in patients with SD. [34] [35] To perform the test, the examiner stabilizes the medial scapular border with one hand, whilst the patient is asked to elevate the arm with 90 degrees of flexion in internal rotation and held the position against the examiner's other hand. The test is positive if the pain felt by the patient is reduced with this manoeuvre or the patient's strength is increased. [36]

Assessment of Surrounding Structures[edit | edit source]

To exclude or confirm alternative causes of the symptoms the examiner should assess the structures around the scapula such as the thoracic spine, the acromioclavicular joint, rotator cuff muscles, the biceps and the glenoid labrum in terms of pain, loss of function, soft tissue laxity and muscle power.

The clavicle should be assessed for angulation, shortening or malrotation. The sternoclavicular (SC) and acromioclavicular (AC) joints should be evaluated for instability. The AC joint can be assessed for anterior-posterior (AP) laxity by stabilizing the clavicle with one hand while grasping and mobilizing the acromion in an AP direction with the other hand. [36][3]

The infraspinatus strength test showed good reliability to assess infraspinatus weakness due to SD. [8]

Muscle Tests[edit | edit source]

Three muscle tests: manual resistance of the arm at 130° of flexion (targets the serratus anterior), [37] [38] manual resistance of the arm at 130-150° of abduction (targets the lower and middle trapezius),[37] and extension of the arm at the side (targets the rhomboids) [39]should be performed.

The distinction between these testing maneuvers and other muscle tests for the shoulder is that the clinician attempts to “break” the patient’s arm position and observe if the scapula is visibly moving out of position. The combination of both the break in position and scapular movement is suggestive of scapular muscle weakness. [40]

Core Evaluation[edit | edit source]

In the low row test, the patient is asked to place his or her arm in slight humeral extension and then instructed to resist movement of the arm into forward flexion. The examiner (positioned posterior to the patient) then instructs the patient to contract the gluteal muscles while applying the same anterior force on the arm. If strength increases with the gluteal contraction, this is an indication that scapular and shoulder muscle activation may be facilitated by involving hip and core strength, which suggests lower extremity/core strengthening should be included in the treatment plan for the shoulder. [40]

Outcome Measures[edit | edit source]

DASH is a self-report questionnaire, that includes 30 items to measure and monitor the function and symptoms of the upper limb for patients with any or several musculoskeletal disorders.

Physiotherapy Management[edit | edit source]

Conservative treatment in SD cases aims to restore scapular retraction, posterior tilt, and external rotation. Specific exercises for scapular rehabilitation include flexibility exercises to decrease scapular traction, and scapular stabilization exercises to optimize scapular kinematics. [8]

The traction on scapular posture can be reduced by performing exercises that increase muscle flexibility. [41] [42] Stretching exercises with shoulder horizontal abduction at 90◦ and 150◦ of elevation have been demonstrated to be useful in increasing pectoralis minor flexibility and the external rotation and posterior tilt of the scapula during forward elevation. [41][42][43]

Scapular stabilization exercises, based on stretching and strengthening, aim to improve muscle strength and joint position sense [44] [45] [46] The serratus anterior and trapezius muscles act as scapular stabilizers. The serratus anterior plays an essential role in determining scapular external rotation and posterior tilt, and the lower trapezius helps to stabilize the scapular position. Scapular stabilization exercises are based on closed and open kinetic chain exercises, including push-ups on a stable or unstable surface, lawnmower exercises, and resisted scapular retraction. [44] [46]



Push-ups on a stable surface improve the serratus anterior stretch and, when Red Cord slings are used, general muscle strength improvements are obtained [47]; the same exercise, performed on an unstable surface, increases the activation of the trapezius while decreasing the activation of the serratus anterior. [48]

The upper and lower trapezius muscles can be better stimulated with upward rotation shrugs. [49] Specific shrug exercises may be beneficial to increase the upward rotation angle and the upper trapezius activity in subjects with SD and the corresponding scapular downward rotation syndrome. [50] Although they could be classified as short lever exercises, maneuvers such as scapular shrugging or elevation should be avoided in the first 4-6 weeks of rehabilitation. This is intentional to not overly bias the upper trapezius which could delay the restoration of balance amongst scapular muscle activation. [40]


In a review article [8] the effects of the Kinesio taping method have also been evaluated. For type II SD, the placement of Kinesio taping over the upper and lower trapezius muscles may rebalance the scapular muscles, increasing the upward scapular rotation[51]; on the other hand, they do not induce changes in the electromyographic activity of serratus anterior, upper and lower trapezius muscles. No alteration in isometric force during shoulder flexo-abduction and external rotation has been shown. [52]


Presentations[edit | edit source]

http://vimeo.com/14715270Scapula-rehabilitation-presentation.png
Advanced Exercises for the Upper Quarter: A How To Guide for Scapular Motor Control Rehabilitation

This presentation, created by Stephanie Pascoe as part of the OMPT Fellowship in 2010, describes a how to guide for scapulothoracic rehabilitation. It includes some great animations!

View the presentation

References[edit | edit source]

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