Scapular Dyskinesis | Diagnosis & Treatment for Physios

Scapular Dyskinesis | Diagnosis & Treatment for Physios
Introduction & Epidemiology
Scapular dyskinesis (which may also be referred to as SICK scapula syndrome) is an alteration or deviation in the normal resting or active position of the scapula during shoulder movement. Sometimes, scapular dyskinesis is also referred to as SICK scapula, which is an acronym for Scapular malposition, Inferior medial border prominence, Coracoid pain and malposition, and dysKinesis of scapular movement. For most people, the scapula moves in abnormal ways due to repetitive use of the shoulder. For this reason, one might already be tempted to ask if scapular dyskinesis is a functional adaption or a pathological pattern we see in patients with shoulder pain.
According to McClure et al. (2011), the scapula displays the following movements including their average degrees of movement (including the standard deviation):
An important aspect when looking at the movement of the scapula is the scapulohumeral rhythm – or in other words – how much does the scapula move in relation to the humerus during arm elevation? Watch the following video in order to learn more about which movements in the shoulder girdle take place in a ‘healthy’ scapula according to the literature:
Seventy-seven percent of physiotherapists believe that a scapulohumeral ratio of 1:2 is normal. This is what we learn in school and what we display in our videos as well (Kirby et al. 2007). However, the 1:2 ratio was first described in 1944 in a single subject by Inman et al. (1996) and it got stuck! In reality, research shows that ratios vary considerably depending on gender, age, hand dominance, the plane of movement, bilateral or unilateral arm movement, speed of movement, different loads, different sports the patient is playing, fatigue, and pain.
So in fact, we really can’t reliably say what “normal” means!
In the following video you will learn about the function of different muscles acting on the scapula and classical ‘dysfunctions’ of the scapula described in the literature and their suspected underlying causes:
Be aware that there is a big prevalence of scapular dyskinesis in non-overhead athletes at 33% and even more in overhead athletes at 61% (Burn et al. 2016).
So in a lot of cases, scapular dyskinesis might be a functional adaption rather than a contributing factor to shoulder pathology!
On the other hand, Prezioso et al. (2018) did a cross-sectional study on 661 young asymptomatic elite swimmers and found a low prevalence of scapular dyskinesis of 8,5%.
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Clinical Presentation & Examination
Examination
Kibler et al. (2002) were one of the pioneers in the classification of scapular dyskinesis. Up to today, the 4-type classification is the most commonly used method in scientific studies to determine if participants display scapular dyskinesis or not.
Watch the video if you want to learn more about the classification in detail:
In the following table, you can find an overview of the 4 different types and their clinical presentation according to Kibler et al. (2002).
Other orthopedic tests to assess scapular dyskinesis are:
LEARN TO DISTINGUISH SHOULDER FACTS FROM FICTION
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Treatment
Should you focus on motor control training to improve scapular motion? McQuade et al. (2016) wrote a critical and theoretical perspective on scapular stabilization and summarize the following:
“Although some studies suggest that scapular stabilization exercises influence scapulothoracic (ST) muscle activation, it is not known whether increases in ST muscle activation or changes in activation ratios translate to any lasting kinematic pattern improvements. In total, there is little evidence to suggest that scapula motor control training can functionally affect scapula muscle activation. Learning to consciously control scapula position and using visual biofeedback appears to be good methods for immediately altering ST muscle activation or motion, yet the long-term clinical significance and transferability to daily functional tasks remain unknown.”
An RCT from Turgut et al. (2017) compared shoulder girdle strengthening+stretching exercises with strengthening+streching exercises plus the addition of scapular stabilization exercises. Although the stabilization group showed differences in external rotation, posterior tilt, and upward rotation, both groups showed improvement in self-reported pain and disability scores to the same degree. So while we might (Turgut et al. 2017) or might not (McQuade et al. 2016) be able to influence scapular kinematics, it seems that it might not be relevant for your shoulder patient’s outcome.
On top of that, Shire et al. (2017) did a systematic review and meta-analysis of six RCTs with four studies evaluating specific scapular exercise strategies and two with a specific proprioceptive strategy compared to general shoulder exercises. They state that no consistent difference was found between the treatment groups in these six studies regarding pain and function. Five of these studies were rated as moderate evidence and one as low-level evidence. For this reason, they conclude that there is insufficient evidence to support or refute the effectiveness of specific resistive exercise strategies in the rehabilitation of subacromial impingement syndrome.
In conclusion, our personal approach is to not focus too much on scapular kinematics, but rather on the strengthening of the rotator cuff and scapulothoracic musculature. You can find a graded exercise approach for scapular strengthening from early (post-operative) rehab to intermediate rehab:
Another exercise that targets the scapular muscles and at the same time strengthens the rotator cuff is the Y-lift:
Do you want to learn more about shoulder pain? Then check out our blog articles and research reviews:
- Why Shoulder Rehab should be like a Delicious Pizza
- Induce Pain to Relieve Pain in Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain?
- The Upper Traps – Over-Assessed, Overblamed, And Very Misunderstood!
- Conservative vs. Surgical Management of Patients with Rotator Cuff Tears
References
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It’s Time to Stop Nonsense Treatments for Shoulder Pain and To Start Delivering Evidence-based Care
What customers have to say about this course
- Barbara Fasol05/09/23Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain THE BEST COURSE SO FAR
I really enjoyed this course, so much it felt like a pleasure instead of a work. The explanations are very clear and the content is well documented and complete. Thank you!Alvin Chi24/06/23Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain OVERALL A QUALITY COURSE THAT SUMMARIZES THE EVIDENCE WELL.
Overall a good course. I found the scapula dyskinesis section the most helpful, as it taught helpful physical exam findings that I could not find elsewhere. I also found the discussion on various tissue irritability helpful. I removed one star because this course has large sections of text, and relatively little videos and helpful diagrams. In comparison to the PFPS course by Claire Robertson, there was too much text and too little videos. I do appreciate how evidence based the course was, but summary diagrams and additional videos would have been helpful. Despite this, I would still recommend this course.Lynn Tastenhoye21/06/23Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain REVIEW RC RELATED SHOULDER PAIN
Naar mijn gevoel werd het theoretische te weinig gekoppeld aan de praktische toepassing ervan - Tristan Bard05/02/23Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain REVIEW
Very interesting course, which allows you to improve your knowledge and your care with the patient, I highly recommend!Maud Silvertand12/01/23Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain RCRSP COURSE REVIEW
A great course guided by up to date knowledge. It provides a good overview of rotator cuff related shoulder pain and the best research and treatment options following the latest evidence. In addition there is a lot of exercise and practice material to test your knowledge.Joscha Kaspar26/11/22Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain AMAZING COURSE
Can highly recommend this course. Step by step you will be guided towards up to date knowledge about rotator cuff related shoulder pain. The Information is very well presented, not to long not to short. It helped me allready to make better treatment descisions in practice with patients. They often come with “impingement” diagnosis and ideas of their subacromial space being to small. Thanks to this course not only my communication is better towards those patients but also my clinical reasoning goes better and I am able to make better treatment plans within a realistic time frame. Thank you! - Ivo Nieuwenhuis25/11/22Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain GOOD COURSE TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE SHOULDER
I liked this course because it is connecting evidence based with the practical understanding of cuff related problems. The way the course is given suits me because mr Struyf is not dictating he is explaining with an open mind.Janneke de Groot03/11/22Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain ERG FIJNE PRAKTIJK GERICHTE CURSUS
Goede state of the art schouder cursus met fijne focus op het praktische aspect van het vak! Goede duidelijke instructie filmpjes en mooi voorbeeld materiaal wat meteen in de praktijk te gebruiken is!Jelter Wahlen05/10/22Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain RCRSP COURSE!
Excellent course with the latest EB information! Higly recommend it! - Lieselot Longé02/10/22Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain ERG INTERESSANTE EN PRAKTIJKGERICHTE CURSUS!
Een heel praktisch gerichte cursus om rotatorcuff gerelateerde schouderklachten aan te pakken. Heeft mij echt nieuwe inzichten en motivatie gegeven om met schouderklachten aan de slag te gaan! Je kan de cursus op je eigen tempo thuis volbrengen met regelmatig een quiz en leuke praktische video’s.Pavel Samsonov13/07/22Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain Perfect course with uptodate knowledge and fine quizes.
I liked the way corse structured: from epidemiology and screening to assessment, exercise ideas and prognostic factors.
Test in the end of the course is great idea to check your knowledge.Remy03/06/22Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain Very good course, up to date background information, skilled instructor. Highly recommended - Khaled Mohi03/09/21Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain His course is excellent one . here you will find true understanding to this very common misunderstanded syndrome . how to treat without causig injury to the patient . i said it is truly excellent courseJanneke de Groot01/01/70Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain ERG FIJNE PRAKTIJK GERICHTE CURSUS
Goede state of the art schouder cursus met fijne focus op het praktische aspect van het vak! Goede duidelijke instructie filmpjes en mooi voorbeeld materiaal wat meteen in de praktijk te gebruiken is!