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Keywords

Manual techniques, injury risk reduction, college and university patient population

Abstract

A tight pectoralis minor correlates to abnormal scapular kinematics, which can cause pain, loss of range of motion and even loss of function, due to the change in scapular position. With these muscular imbalances causing forward scapular posture, the pectoralis minor is a key component to address in the prevention and treatment of shoulder impingement and scapular dyskinesis. This study investigated the effectiveness of a single positional release therapy (PRT) treatment of the pectoralis minor on scapular posture in collegiate swimmers immediately and 24 hours post intervention. Seventeen Division III collegiate swimmers (7 males and 10 females) volunteered to participate, with only one shoulder being excluded due to recent injury (n=33). Researchers measured resting pectoralis minor muscle length, forward shoulder posture and scapular elevation of both shoulders. Data were collected a total of 3 times; prior to the PRT intervention, right after the intervention and again 24 hours post intervention. Each shoulder was treated with a single session of PRT on the pectoralis minor. There was a significant difference for resting pectoralis minor length immediately post-intervention compared to baseline (p=.016). Scapular positioning at 0° abduction had a statistically significant improvement in position from immediate post-intervention to 24 hours post-intervention (p=.014). Scapular positioning at 90° of abduction also had a statistically significant increase in position from baseline to immediate post-intervention (p=.042). For forward shoulder posture, there was a statistically significant improvement in position from baseline to immediate post- intervention (p≤.001). The results of this case series show that a single treatment of PRT has an immediate effect in reducing resting pectoralis minor muscle length and decreasing rounded shoulder posture. However, this single treatment of PRT was not enough to maintain these effects after 24 hours, and should be combined with other manual therapies or rehabilitation protocols to address scapular positioning in collegiate swimmers.

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