Scapular Muscle Endurance, Shoulder Pain, and Functionality

The SME test, developed by Edmondston et al. 17, is based on an exercise used to improve the performance of the serratus anterior and trapezius muscles. The test was carried out while the subjects were facing the wall in standing position and with their shoulders and elbows flexed to 90 degrees. While both scapulae were in neutral position, an appropriate size of stick (18-36 cm) was selected and placed between the elbows, and they were asked to hold the dynamometer (Feta 137 F0202 1 kg/10 N) between their hands.

"Pain intensity assessment was performed by questioning rest, activity, night, and measuremant pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS) on a 10 cm line with marks at both ends to define the limits of the pain experience as no pain (0) and maximum pain experienced (10), with higher scores indicating greater pain 20."

The Functional Impairment Test-Hand and Neck/Shoulder/Arm (FIT-HaNSA) protocol, which was developed by MacDermid et al. 21, was used to evaluate the functional performance of the upper extremity when performing 3 tasks.