Effects of therapeutic exercise in patients with scapular instability: a systematic review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v67.113346

Keywords:

Scapular dyskinesia, Exercise, Scapulothoracic, Glenohumeral, Body movement, Shoulder blade

Abstract

Introduction: Therapeutic exercise plays a fundamen-tal role in restoring normal scapular kinematics during shoulder movements by improving muscle activity, strength, flexibility and balance between the pairs of muscle forces responsi-ble for instability. scapular
Objective: to analyze the effect of therapeutic exer-cise in patients with scapu-lar instability
Methodology: the data-bases PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Cinahl and Sport Discus were consulted using the keywords thera-peutic exercise, joint insta-bility, biomechanical phe-nomena and scapula.
Results: Six randomized controlled trials were included, of which three combined muscle strength-ening exercise and scapu-lar stability, while the other three used specific methodologies. The first approach combined shoul-der and scapula strength-ening exercises with con-ventional therapy for lat-eral elbow tendinopathy; the second incorporated both active and passive kinematic biofeedback; and the third integrated sen-sorimotor training with shoulder flexion exercises and daily functional activi-ties. Most studies reported significant results in at least some of the study variables.
Discussion: the results of the research should be contrasted with those of other research found in the literature.
Conclusions: Therapeutic exercise based on strength exercise, kinematic bio-feedback and sensory-riomotor training was beneficial for scapular instability. However, scap-ular stabilization exercises have not reported signifi-cant benefits.

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Published

14-05-2025

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Section

Theoretical systematic reviews and/or meta-analysis

How to Cite

Blanco-Escaso, C., Alonso-Calvete, A., González González, Y., & da Cuña-Carrera, I. (2025). Effects of therapeutic exercise in patients with scapular instability: a systematic review. Retos, 67, 929-945. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v67.113346