The Y exercise is a therapeutic exercise facilitating lower trapezius muscle activity.
OBJECTIVE:
To identify the effects of scapular movement cues (posterior tilt vs. posterior tilt with adduction/depression) on trapezius muscle activity during Y exercise.
METHODS:
Fifteen healthy men without current shoulder pain performed general Y exercise; Y exercise with cues for scapular posterior tilt; and Y exercise with cues for scapular posterior tilt, adduction, and depression. Electromyography (EMG) data for the trapezius muscles were collected during Y exercise. The posterior tilt angle of the scapula was measured in the prone position with and without cues for scapular posterior tilt using an inclinometer application.
RESULTS:
The greatest lower trapezius muscle activity was observed during Y exercise with cues for scapular posterior tilt, while the greatest EMG activity of the upper trapezius was observed during Y exercise with cues for scapular posterior tilt, adduction, and depression ( 0.05). Middle trapezius muscle activity did not significantly differ among the three Y exercise conditions ( 0.175). Cues for scapular posterior tilt significantly increased the scapular posterior tilt angle in the prone shoulder abduction position ( 0.007).
CONCLUSION:
Cues for scapular posterior tilt were most effective in facilitating lower trapezius muscle activity during Y exercise.
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