A comparison of the shoulder and trunk muscle activity according to the various resistance condition during push up plus in four point kneeling.
Jung-Bin Kim, Chang-Kyo Yun, Myoung-Hyo Lee
PMID 28210034WHAT IT FOUND
Pushing a leg against backward resistance during a knee push-up plus increases serratus anterior and external oblique activity.
Pushing against inward resistance increases internal oblique activity. Therapists can select resistance direction to target specific stabilizing muscles.
Key findings
01Serratus anterior and external oblique muscle activity increased significantly when the lifted leg was maintained against extension resistance during the knee push-up plus.
02Internal oblique muscle activity showed the highest significant value when the lifted leg was maintained against adduction resistance during the knee push-up plus.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study only measured muscles on the right side (dominant side), so it cannot identify changes in the opposite side or left-sided muscle activity. The study did not assess the position of the scapulae on an object basis, limiting the ability to link muscle activity directly to scapular kinematics. Participants were healthy adults with no neck or shoulder pain, so results may not apply to patients with existing pathology or scapular winging.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these EMG changes translate to improved clinical outcomes or strength in patients with shoulder pathology. The study measured electrical activity in healthy individuals, not functional improvement or pain reduction.