Influence of external fixation on the isomeric strength of the shoulder flexors in individuals with scapular elevation.

Abstract

Sufficient shoulder flexor strength is necessary for accurate movement of the shoulder joint because several factors can cause compensatory movements of the scapula. We investigated the influence of external fixation on the isometric shoulder flexors strength (ISFS) in individuals with and without scapular elevation (SE) during shoulder flexion. The healthy and SE groups included 29 individuals. The ISFS was measured using a tensiometer (kg) under conditions of with and without external fixation, in a random order. The change in the ISFS (the strength difference with and without external fixation) was compared between the healthy and SE groups using an independent t-test. The change in the ISFS differed significantly between the healthy and SE groups (3.5% and 32.3%, respectively; p= 0.001). These findings suggest that external fixation should be considered during shoulder flexion to determine the ISFS accurately in individuals with compensated SE.