Affiliations: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Zeynep Hazar Kanik, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, 06500 Ankara, Turkey. Tel.: +90 535 6821405; Fax: +90 312 2162636; E-mail:zhazar@gazi.edu.tr
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Scapular muscle endurance and core endurance
reportedly influence shoulder injury risk. The exact relationship between
scapular muscle endurance and core endurance, and how they impact one
another in the healthy subjects remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between scapular muscle
endurance and core endurance in healthy subjects. METHODS: Fifty healthy volunteers (23 males, 27 females; mean age
20.42 ± 1.04 years) were participated in this study. Endurance of the
serratus anterior and trapezius muscles was assessed using the scapular
muscle endurance test. Sorensen test (endurance of trunk extensor muscles),
trunk flexor endurance test, and side bridge test (endurance of lateral core
muscles) were conducted to assess the core endurance. Pearson's product
moment correlations examined relationships between scapular muscle endurance
and each of the core endurance tests scores. RESULTS: Scapular muscle endurance test scores showed a positive
correlation with the side bridge test scores (r = 0.414; p = 0.003). No
significant correlation was found between scapular muscle endurance test
scores and the other core endurance tests scores (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be a link between the scapular muscle
endurance and lateral core muscles in healthy subjects; however, more
research is needed to provide a definitive answer on the nature of this
relationship. Further studies involving patients with shoulder pathology are
warranted.
Keywords: Trapezius, serratus anterior, sorensen test, side bridge test
