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The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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Scapular Dyskinesis (Abnormal Shoulder Blade Movement)
Scapular dyskinesis is abnormal movement or positioning of the shoulder blade (scapula) during arm motion, causing visible winging, shoulder pain, and reduced athletic performance - it affects 60-100% of athletes with shoulder injuries and results from muscle imbalances, poor posture, or nerve injuries, with treatment focused on physiotherapy targeting scapular stabilizing muscles achieving 70-90% improvement in 3-6 months.
đWhat is Scapular Dyskinesis (Abnormal Shoulder Blade Movement)?
Scapular dyskinesis is abnormal movement or positioning of the shoulder blade (scapula) during arm motion, causing visible winging, shoulder pain, and reduced athletic performance - it affects 60-100% of athletes with shoulder injuries and results from muscle imbalances, poor posture, or nerve injuries, with treatment focused on physiotherapy targeting scapular stabilizing muscles achieving 70-90% improvement in 3-6 months.
đŦWhat Causes It?
- Muscle imbalances (weak serratus anterior, lower trapezius; tight pectoralis minor) from poor training or posture
- Underlying shoulder pathology (rotator cuff tears, labral tears, impingement) causing altered scapular mechanics
- Long thoracic nerve injury causing serratus anterior paralysis and scapular winging
- Poor posture (forward head, rounded shoulders) altering scapular resting position
- Overhead sports (baseball, volleyball, swimming) causing repetitive microtrauma
â ī¸Risk Factors
You may be at higher risk if:
- Overhead athletes (baseball pitchers, volleyball players, swimmers)
- Sedentary desk work with poor posture (forward head, rounded shoulders)
- Previous shoulder surgery or injury
- Weak core and trunk stability
- Rapid increase in training volume or intensity
đĄī¸Prevention
- âMaintain good posture (avoid forward head, rounded shoulders)
- âStrengthen scapular stabilizers (serratus anterior, trapezius) with regular exercises
- âAvoid rapid increases in overhead activity volume (follow 10% rule - increase weekly volume no more than 10%)
- âBalance anterior and posterior shoulder strength (avoid excessive bench pressing without equal rowing/pulling)
- âStretch tight anterior muscles (pectoralis minor, major)