Effects of Ai Chi on Scapular Muscle Activation in Overhead Athletes With Scapular Dyskinesis

NCT05714163 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 202208053RINA
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 21
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Scapular dyskinesis (SD) is common in overhead athletes and negatively influence the athletes' performance, increasing the risk of shoulder injury. The kinetic chain (KC) exercises for SD rehabilitation that emphasize importance of core strength and scapula stability during skillful performance. Ai Chi, the aquatic exercises performed in functional positions, which are adequate for power transfer of KC. This study will investigate the effect of KC-based water exercises, Ai Chi, on scapular muscles in overhead athletes with SD.

Conditions

Scapular Dyskinesis; Athletic Injuries; Muscle Weakness; Overuse Injury

Keywords

Ai Chi; Hydrotherapy; Scapular dyskinesis; Overhead athletes; muscle balance; kinetic chain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Percentage of maximal voluntary isometric contraction of upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), serratus anterior (SA), latissimus dorsi (LD)

  The muscle activity of UT, LT, SA and LD of the dominant hand will be recorded for 3 trials of each exercises with 3-seconds concentric phase and 3-seconds eccentric phase. There is a 3-second rest between trails and one-minute rest between exercises.

  Through study completion, an average of 10 months

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Muscle balance ratio of UT/SA

  Through study completion, an average of 10 months

• Muscle balance ratio of UT/LT

  Through study completion, an average of 10 months

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 99 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The participants are overhead athletes with scapular dyskinesis (SD) who played overhead sports activities at least 3 hours/week.

You may qualify if:

• The participants are overhead athletes with scapular dyskinesis (SD) who played overhead sports activities at least 3 hours/week.

You may not qualify if:

• the individuals who have shoulder/neck pain in recent 3 months (VAS \>7/10)
• severe shoulder trauma (the collision shoulder, shoulder sprains or strains)
• severe scoliosis (Cobb angle \> 25 degrees)
• surgery of upper extremity (the shoulder, cervical spine and elbow) or cervical spine
• peripheral nerve injury or neurological disease (impaired sensation or motor function: numbness, tingle, muscle weakness)
• body mass index (BMI) \>25
• infectious disease (upper respiratory tract infection, skin infection, etc.)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Taiwan University Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

National Taiwan University Hospital

Taipei, Taiwan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Athletic Injuries; Muscle Weakness; Cumulative Trauma Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Wounds and Injuries; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Sprains and Strains

Study Officials

• Jiu-Jenq Lin

  National Taiwan University Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 12, 2022
• First Posted: February 6, 2023
• Study Start: October 16, 2022
• Primary Completion: February 23, 2023
• Study Completion: February 23, 2023
• Last Updated: January 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Locations

TW (1)