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Muscles of the Shoulder

Muscles of the Shoulder

The muscles surrounding the shoulder girdle, including the clavicle and scapula, primarily stabilize the scapula. This stable base allows other muscles to move the humerus effectively. Scapular movements often mirror those of the humerus and extend its range of motion. For instance, raising the arm above the head would not be feasible without simultaneous upward rotation of the scapula.
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The anterior thoracic muscles include the serratus anterior, subclavius, and...

Muscle Coordination and Action

Muscle Coordination and Action

Muscle coordination is a complex and finely tuned process essential for smooth and purposeful movements like flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, and rotation. The human body orchestrates the actions of various muscles working in concert, each with a specific role. Four functional types describe how muscles work together: agonist, antagonist, synergist, and fixator.
Agonists
Agonist muscles, often called prime movers, are the primary muscles responsible for producing a specific movement....

Muscles that Move the Arm

Muscles that Move the Arm

Nine muscles are involved in arm movements. Two of these, the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi, originate from the axial skeleton and are called axial muscles. The other seven originate from the scapula and are called the scapular muscles.
The pectoralis major has two origins. Its clavicular head originates on the medial half of the clavicle. In contrast, the sternocostal head originates on the costal cartilages of ribs 1-6, the sternum, and the aponeurosis of the external oblique of the...

Anatomical Movements

Anatomical Movements

Anatomical movements refer to the various actions or motions that can be performed by the body's joints and muscles. These movements are described using specific terms to provide a standardized way of discussing and understanding the range of motion at different joints.
Here are some common anatomical movements:
Flexion and extension motions are in the sagittal (anterior–posterior) plane of motion. These movements take place at the shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, wrist,...

Axial and Appendicular Muscles

Axial and Appendicular Muscles

Skeletal muscles, the key players in our body's movement, can be classified into two groups based on their location and function: axial muscles and appendicular muscles. These classifications reflect the primary roles the muscles play in the body's structure and movement.
Axial Muscles
Axial muscles, situated along the body's midline, are intricately connected to the axial skeleton, which includes the skull, spine, ribs, and sternum. These muscles facilitate facial expressions and...

Functional Classification of Joints

Functional Classification of Joints

Functional Classification of Joints
The functional classification of joints is determined by the amount of mobility between the adjacent bones. Joints are functionally classified as a synarthrosis or immobile joint, an amphiarthrosis or slightly moveable joint, or as a diarthrosis, a freely moveable joint. Fibrous and cartilaginous joints can be functionally classified as either synarthroses or amphiarthroses, whereas all synovial joints are classified as diarthroses.
Synarthrosis
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Measuring 3D In-vivo Shoulder Kinematics using Biplanar Videoradiography

Measuring 3D In-vivo Shoulder Kinematics using Biplanar Videoradiography

Published on: March 12, 2021

Shoulder muscle activation patterns and levels differ between open and closed-chain abduction.

Darren Reed¹, Ian Cathers², Mark Halaki³

¹Discipline of Biomedical Science, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Australia.

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport

|August 15, 2017

Summary

Shoulder muscle activation differs between open-chain and closed-chain abduction exercises. Open-chain exercises better engage rotator cuff muscles, while closed-chain exercises offer greater stability for earlier rehabilitation.

Keywords:

Axioscapular muscles Deltoid Electromyography Rotator cuff Scapulothoracic muscles

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Last Updated: Feb 24, 2026

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Published on: March 12, 2021

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Measurement of Dynamic Scapular Kinematics Using an Acromion Marker Cluster to Minimize Skin Movement Artifact

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Published on: February 10, 2015

Area of Science:

Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology
Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Background:

Shoulder abduction exercises, both open and closed-chain, are vital in physical therapy for muscle function assessment and enhancement.
Existing literature lacks clarity on how shoulder muscle activation patterns vary between open-chain and closed-chain abduction.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate and compare the distinct muscle activation patterns during closed-chain shoulder abduction using a shoulder press machine versus open-chain abduction with free weights.

Main Methods:

An experimental study design was employed.
Fifteen and fourteen subjects performed open and closed-chain abduction, respectively, at 25%, 50%, and 75% loads.
Surface and indwelling electrodes recorded activation of seven shoulder muscles during concentric abduction (40°-140°), normalized to maximal voluntary contractions (MVC).

Main Results:

Only the middle deltoid showed a strong positive correlation (r≥0.65, p<0.05) in activation patterns between exercises, with similar levels across loads (35-60% MVC).
Other tested muscles exhibited inconsistent, low, or negative correlations between open and closed-chain abduction.
Closed-chain abduction resulted in significantly lower activation for subscapularis (all loads), upper trapezius (medium/high loads), and infraspinatus/lower trapezius (high load) (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

Open-chain abduction is crucial for activating rotator cuff and axioscapular muscles, supporting the middle deltoid's action.
Closed-chain exercises provide inherent stability, potentially allowing earlier progression in shoulder rehabilitation due to reduced rotator cuff demand.