EFFECT OF A SIX-WEEK SERRATUS ANTERIOR STRETCHING PROGRAMME ON SHOULDER FUNCTION IN YOUNG ADULTS WITH RESTRICTED SHOULDER MOBILITY

Abstract

Background: The serratus anterior muscle is responsible for protracting and rotating the scapula and for maintaining the scapula against the thoracic wall. Repetitive overhead or desk-based activities can lead to shortening of the serratus anterior muscle and limited shoulder mobility. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a six-week manual muscle stretching programme of the serratus anterior muscle on the range of motion of the shoulder among young adults with limited shoulder range of motion.

Methods: Thirty young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years with limited shoulder range of motion, tightness of the serratus anterior muscle (manual muscle test result of 1-2), and occupational requirements of performing overhead or desk-based tasks were randomly selected from the Faculty of Physiotherapy, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, Chennai. Participants with grade 0 or grade 3 muscle power, pathological, inflammatory, or infectious shoulder conditions were excluded. A manual side-lying serratus anterior stretch was applied by a single therapist, who mobilised the scapula away from the thoracic wall while the participant performed a sustained deep-breath hold; each stretch was held for 30 seconds and repeated three times per session, delivered once daily on three alternate days per week for six weeks. Shoulder function was assessed before and after the programme using the Constant–Murley Outcome Score (CMOS), which combines pain, activities of daily living, range of motion, and strength to a maximum of 100. Data were analysed in SPSS v24; normality was confirmed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, and a paired t-test compared pre- and post-intervention scores.

Results: The CMOS data were normally distributed (p = 0.261). The mean CMOS improved from 79.05 ± 8.71 before the intervention to 84.25 ± 5.54 afterwards, a mean gain of 5.20 points (≈6.6%), which was statistically highly significant (t = −6.73; p ≤ 0.001). Post-intervention scores were also less variable, indicating a more consistent functional response.

Conclusion: A six-week manual serratus anterior stretching programme significantly improved shoulder function in young adults with restricted shoulder mobility, supporting its use as a simple adjunct for preserving scapular mechanics and shoulder range of motion.

Keywords: Serratus anterior; Shoulder range of motion; Muscle stretching; Scapular dyskinesis; Constant–Murley score; Shoulder function.