earticle

영어

Excessive activity of the upper trapezius (UT) muscle contributes to a rounded shoulder posture (RSP) through abnormal rotation of the scapula that weakens the lower trapezius (LT) and serratus anterior (SA) muscles. This study compared the effects of knee push-up plus (KPP) exercise and KPP with isometric shoulder extension (KPPISE) exercise on the activities of LT, SA, and UT, and lower trapezius/upper trapezius (LT/UT) and serratus anterior/upper trapezius (SA/UT) activity ratios in subjects with RSP. Twenty subjects with RSP performed KPP and KPPISE. Electromyography was used to examine the muscle activity and a caliper, to measure the RSP. The paired t-test was used to compare the effect of KPP and KPPISE exercises on LT, SA, and UT activities, as well as LT/UT and SA/UT activity ratios in subjects with RSP. The LT and SA muscle activities significantly increased during KPPISE exercises than during KPP exercise (p=.004, p=.001; respectively). In contrast, the UT muscle activity significantly decreased during KPPISE exercise than after KPP exercise (p=.001). The LT/UT and SA/UT activity ratios increased significantly during KPPISE exercise than during KPP exercise (both p=.001). The KPPISE exercise may be an effective way to increase the LT and SA activity while reducing UT activity in subjects with the RSP.