Effect of Thoracic Mobility Exercises Combined With Scapular Stabilization Exercises in Individuals With Subacromial Pain Syndrome

Overview

The subject of this study is to examine the effects of thoracic mobility exercises combined with scapular stabilization exercises on pain, range of motion, scapular alignment, postural alignment and quality of life in individuals with subacromial pain syndrome. The scapula assumes a role that is attached to the axial skeleton by atmospheric pressure and axioscapular muscles, and prepares the ground for the formation of wide range of motion in the shoulder complex. The scapulothoracic movement formed by the movement of the scapula on the thorax is provided not only by the function of the scapular muscles but also by the optimization of the thoracic muscles and posture. Therefore, changes in the biomechanics of the thoracic spine and scapula affect the function of the shoulder. Therefore, we predict that the possible contributions of scapular stabilization and thoracic mobility exercises to scapular alignment and alignment in thoracic posture will further improve shoulder-related complaints.

Subacromial pain syndrome is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. Factors leading to rotator cuff pathology due to decreased subacromial space play a role in its development. Depending on the stage of Subacromial Pain Syndrome; edema and hemorrhage in subacromial tissues, pain and tenderness in the lateral shoulder, fibrosis in the glenohumeral capsule and subacromial bursa, tendonitis in the affected tendons, abrasion, ruptures or osteophytes may develop in tendons. Again depending on the stage; postural changes such as increased downward rotation and anterior tilt in the scapula, loss of active-passive range of motion, atrophy in the rotator cuff and deltoid muscles may be observed. These disorders cause imbalances that may prevent optimal scapulohumeral rhythm. Changes in the biomechanics of the thoracic spine and scapula affect the function of the shoulder. Extension of the thoracic spine is significantly limited in subacromial pain syndrome. The scapula can also assume a significantly increased anterior tilt, internal rotation, protraction and decreased upward rotation position. This situation indicates that interventions are needed to improve limited thoracic extension and altered scapular position that may affect shoulder joint motion and muscle strength in the rehabilitation of individuals with subacromial pain syndrome. A study on young tennis players, including thoracic region mobility exercises, based on the idea that increased thoracic kyphosis reduces shoulder functional capacity, has yielded effective results in correcting sagittal thoracic curvature and increasing thoracic mobility. It also strongly increased glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion. Throwing injuries to the shoulder joint often occur during shoulder external rotation. Therefore, an appropriate combination of thoracic, scapular and humeral motion during throwing is important to prevent such injuries. Thoracic extension increases scapular posterior tilt and external rotation during shoulder external rotation and decreases glenohumeral horizontal abduction, and also increases maximum shoulder external rotation. It has been shown that providing thoracic extension can contribute to reducing mechanical demands on the glenohumeral joint during activities such as throwing and can potentially reduce shoulder injuries. Restricting thoracic extension can reduce scapulothoracic movement and cause excessive glenohumeral joint movement, which can be a risk factor for shoulder injuries. The finding of a significant positive correlation between scapular posterior tilt and glenohumeral external rotation also provides an idea about the posture that should be adopted to reduce the risk of injury. Therefore, during shoulder movements, it is necessary to correct the posture of the thoracic spine in order to prevent the incompatibility of scapula and thorax movements due to posture. Based on this, it is expected that the study to be conducted will shed light on the rehabilitation of individuals with subacromial pain syndrome by demonstrating the effectiveness of thoracic mobility exercises.