Electromyographic analysis of shoulder muscles during press-up variations and progressions

Herrington, LC; Waterman, R; Smith, LC

Abstract

Due to the versatility of the press-up it is a popular upper extremity strengthening and rehabilitation
exercise. Press-up programmes are often progressed by increasing weight-bearing load and using unstable
bases of support. Despite the popularity of the press-up research examining press-up variations is
limited. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of common press-up exercises on serratus
anterior, infraspinatus, anterior deltoid, pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles overall EMG activity.
Twenty-one healthy individuals participated in this study. Surface electrodes were placed on pectoralis
major, anterior deltoid, infraspinatus, serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi muscles. Participants
were tested under 7 static press-up conditions that theoretically progressively increase weight-bearing
load and proprioceptive challenge while surface electromyographic activity was recorded. There was a
high correlation between increased weight-bearing load and increased EMG activity for all muscles in
stable base conditions. The introduction of the unstable base conditions resulted in an activation decline
in all muscles. Within the two-armed press-up the Swiss ball resulted in decreased activation in all muscles
except pectoralis major. Serratus anterior demonstrated the greatest activation as a percentage of
maximum isometric contraction across all exercises. The findings of this study indicate that by varying
the weight-bearing load and base of support whilst in the press-up position results in significantly different
demands on shoulder and scapula muscles.

Citation

Herrington, L., Waterman, R., & Smith, L. (2015). Electromyographic analysis of shoulder muscles during press-up variations and progressions. Journal of Electro - myography and Kinesiology, 25(1), 100-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.10.002

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 4, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Oct 24, 2014
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Nov 30, 2015
• Journal: Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology
• Print ISSN: 1050-6411
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 100-106
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.10.002
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.10.002
• Related Public URLs: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/10506411/25/1