Immediate Changes of Shoulder External Rotation Exercise of Various Angle on the Distance of Subacromial Space

Background/Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the distance of the subacromial space when conducting external rotation according to the shoulder joint abduction angle

Method/Statistical Analysis:The study subjects were 40 volunteer participants. The abduction angle of the shoulder joint was set 0°, 45°, 90° and 120° with 10 subjects per angle as a total of 4 groups and the examined changes the subacromial space when conducting external rotation before and after. Ultrasonography was used for the measurement, and the measurement part was the subacromial space.

Findings: 0° and 45° did not show any significant difference before and after exercise. But At 90 degree, there was significant difference, pre-exercise was 10.0±0.92 and post-exercise was 10.3±0.95 (p<0.05). And at 120 degree, there was significant difference, pre-exercise was 11.5±2.62 and post-exercise was 12.05±2.51 (p<0.05).

Improvements/Applications: The distance changes according to the posture cannot be found. Because it was conducted with normal subjects, it seems to have a heavy burden to apply to patients with shoulder injury. There is a limit to generalize toward all patients. Exercise period for muscles was short. Future studies may provide better results if intervention is conducted for a long period of time in various postures and patients.