Effect of Scapular Position-Motion Maintenance Exercise Programme During Post Traumatic Shoulder Immobilization

Background: The scapula plays a key role in nearly every aspect of normal shoulder function. Alteration in scapular position and motion is found in association with most shoulder injuries. This alteration is term as scapular dyskinesis. Prevalence of scapular dyskinesis is about 67 to 100 %. But many literature focus on treatment after occurrence but very few aim at prevention during immobilization phase. This made indeed to study the effect of scapular position-motion maintenance programme during shoulder immobilization phase.

Objectives: To determine the effect of scapular position-motion maintenance exercise programme during post traumatic shoulder immobilization phase. To compare the effect of scapular position-motion maintenance exercise programme and conventional physiotherapy during post traumatic shoulder immobilization phase.

Method: A Total of 40 subjects were selected aged between 20 to 50 years. They were divided into two groups. Group A (experimental) and group B (conventional). Both groups received treatment for 6 weeks for a duration of 30 minutes. The outcome measure used were VAS, Posture assessment, pectoralis minor muscle length, Linnies test and scapular assistance test.

Result: The study concludes that experimental group (scapular position-motion programme)proved more efficacious in reducing risk of scapular dyskinesisin patients with humerus fracture during immobilization phase as compared with conventional treatment.