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Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of humeral adductors in subjects with rotator cuff tear

  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

In symptomatic patients with rotator cuff tear, MRI and radiographic studies have ascribed the pain symptom to insufficient humeral head depression during arm elevations. The arm adductors such as the teres major and pectoralis major may contribute to depression of the humerus head during arm elevations. Researchers have demonstrated that neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the serratus anterior and lower trapezius can control scapular motions and improve acromiohumeral distance. It is unknown, however, if adductor neuromuscular training could help patients with rotator cuff tear.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study of NMES of the teres major and pectoralis major was conducted on 30 symptomatic subjects with rotator cuff tear. We measured the acromiohumeral distance by ultrasonography and scapular kinematics during arm elevation with a three-dimensional motion tracking system.

Results

The acromiohumeral distance significantly increased during NMES of the teres major (0.73 mm, p < 0.001). However, the distance significantly decreased with NMES of the pectoralis major (0.78 mm, p < 0.001). Additionally, scapular upward rotation was greater during NMES of the teres major than during NMES of the pectoralis major (3.4°, p < 0.001). Scapular external rotation decreased significantly more during NMES of the pectoralis major than during NMES of the teres major (1.6°, p = 0.003).

Conclusions

NMES of the teres major can increase acromiohumeral distance and scapular upward rotation during arm elevation. However, the decreased upward and external rotation of the scapula during arm elevation with NMES of the pectoralis major may be associated with subacromial im**ement.

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Data availability

Data will be made available by the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Code availability

Not applicable.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, 110-2314-B-002 -054 -MY3, Taiwan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Che-Yuan Chang, Yi Hsuan Weng & Jiu-Jenq Lin

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chung-Hsun Chang

  3. Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    **g-Lan Yang & Jiu-Jenq Lin

  4. School of Physical Therapy, Master Program in Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Po-Tsun Chen

  5. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, China Medical University Hospital, Rm. 327, 3F., No. 17, Xuzhou Rd. Zhongzheng Dist, Taichung, Taipei City, 100, Taiwan

    Che-Yuan Chang

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  1. Che-Yuan Chang
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conceptions and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by C-Y.C. Data analysis was performed by C-Y.C. and J-J.L. The frst draft of the manuscript was written by C-Y.C. and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiu-Jenq Lin.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The local Human Subject Research Ethics Committee of the National Taiwan University Hospital gave its approval prior to the study (approval number: NCT05879003 from clinicaltrials.gov).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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All participants signed informed consent regarding publishing their data.

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Chang, CY., Weng, Y.H., Chang, CH. et al. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of humeral adductors in subjects with rotator cuff tear. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 144, 2039–2046 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-024-05316-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-024-05316-3

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