1Student, Department of physical therapy, Sunmoon University, Asan-SI, Chungnam, Korea
2Professor, Department of physical therapy, Sunmoon University, Asan-SI, Chungnam, Korea
*Corresponding Author: Jae-Ho Yu, Professor, Department of physical therapy, Sunmoon University, Korea, Email: naresa@sunmoon.ac.kr
Online published on 2 February, 2019.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of isometric pull-down exercises on acromio-humeral distance(AHD) in 30°, 60°, 90° and 120° shoulder flexion angles, to establish the force required to achieve a clinically important in the AHD.
A total of thirty-six healthy volunteers(18 males and 18females) with a mean age of 19 years participated in this study. Ultrasonography was used to measure AHD in asymptomatic participants during resting position and while performing isometric pull-down exercises at 30°, 60°, 90° and 120° shoulder flexion. The load used during the isometric pull-down exercises was equivalent to 70% of 1RM.
The change of AHD depending on the shoulder flexion angle was showed significant difference. According to the post-hoc test results, AHD was the longest at 90° shoulder flexion and there was a significant difference.(p<.05) However, there was no significant difference between gender and dominant/non-dominant arm when compared.
According to the results, there was an increase in AHD which shows the effectiveness of isometric pull-down exercise at 90° shoulder flexion. This study can be used as a base to prove the clinical importance of AHD and as well as a means to develop exercises which may benefit patients with shoulder pathology.
Isometric pull-down exercise, Acromio-humeral distance, 90° shoulder flexion, Shoulder pathology, Ultrasonography
