Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Analysis of the neuromuscular activity during
scapulohumeral exercises in water and on land
Castillo R (1) , Cuesta A (2)
(1) Patronato Municipal de Deportes. Málaga, Spain
(2) Department of Psychiatry and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Malaga
romu_castillo@hotmail.com
Introduction and Objectives
Early mobilization is essential to restore normal shoulder function. Aquatic
Physiotherapy (AP) has been promoted as a method for improving the
scapulohumeral rhythm by reducing the weight on the arm.
To compare the activation of the muscles of the right scapulohumeral rhythm,
and synergists in different movements and speeds, on land and in water for extrapolation
to clinical practice.
Materials and Methods
Cross-sectional, analytical inferential that uses surface electromyography
(sEMG) to measure the level of muscle activation scapulohumeral rhythm right
shoulder in healthy subjects.
sEMG was examined by eight muscles (erector spinae neck, trapezius, supraspinatus,
infraspinatus, pectoralis, anterior deltoid, middle deltoid and latissimus
dorsi) involved in scapulohumeral rhythm right shoulder of 16 right-handed subjects
of which 8 were males and 8 females. Each subject performed elevations from
0° to 90° in abduction, antepulsion and combined (45°) of the glenohumeral joint in
dry and in water at three different speeds (30°/sec, 45°/sec, and 90°/sec). The normalization
in each of the movements was determined by maximal voluntary contraction
(MVC). Comparisons between in water and on land were by Wilconxon or
T-Student as normal variables.
Results
The results of the 8 muscles studied muscle activation during the test of three
speeds (30°/sec, 45°/sec and 90°/sec) and three movements was significantly lower
when performed in the water off when done on land the rate of 30°/sec; similar
when performed in water compared to when on land to the speed of 45°/sec, and
significantly higher when performed in water versus when performing on land to
speed of 90º/sec.
Conclusions
These data suggest that the active movement of the shoulder from 0° to 90° in
water and on land should be performed following a progression according to results
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 263-264
263
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4