Reaching higher: External scapula assistance can improve upper limb function in humans with irreversible scapula alata.
Anna-Maria Georgarakis, Michele Xiloyannis, Christian Dettmers and 3 others
PMID 34479574WHAT IT FOUND
For eight people with irreversible scapula winging, a therapist’s hand-guided scapula support raised arm elevation by 17.3 degrees in flexion.
A wearable orthosis raised it by 6.2 degrees and cut perceived exertion by 1.25 Borg points. Neither was tested long-term.
Key findings
01Therapist assistance improved arm elevation significantly over baseline: 17.3 degrees in flexion and 11.2 degrees in abduction.
02Orthosis assistance improved arm elevation less than therapist assistance: 6.2 degrees in flexion and 5.8 degrees in abduction, with wide individual variation including reductions.
03During a functional task lifting a bottle, orthosis assistance lowered perceived exertion on the Borg Scale by an average of 1.25 points (from 16.5 to 15.25).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Only eight participants, all with muscular dystrophy, so results cannot be generalised to other causes of scapula alata. The study measured immediate effects only; no data on long-term use, adaptation, or functional outcomes in daily life. Orthosis fit and force were customised per participant, making it unclear how a standardised device would perform. Therapist assistance involved human interaction, so its effect on trunk compensation could not be isolated from the scapula stabilisation itself. The crossover design did not include blinding, and outcome assessors were likely aware of conditions.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the National Centre of Competence in Research Robotics. No specific author conflicts are listed in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the scapula orthosis is an established treatment for irreversible scapula alata. The study was an immediate-effect crossover trial in only eight people with muscular dystrophy. It showed no long-term functional gains, and individual responses varied widely, with some participants experiencing reduced range of motion.