ArticleAnnals of biomedical engineering2026
Shoulder Kinematic and Muscle Activity Compensations to Scapular Stabilizer Weakness: An Optimal Control Framework.
Article in Annals of biomedical engineering, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Kinesiopathology, a Framework for Progressive Nature of Neuromusculoskeletal Dysfunctions: Implications for Physical Therapy.Physical therapy research · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposeShoulder kinematic and muscular redundancy promotes considerable variability, obscuring possible insights into neuromuscular control and compensation mechanisms for muscle weakness or fatigue. The current study harnessed recent advancements in optimal control formulations for computational musculoskeletal models to determine potential neuromuscular control strategies to compensate for isolated muscle weakness.
methodsA computational shoulder model characterized by independent clavicular, scapular, and humeral kinematics and 138 muscle elements was used. Optimal control-predicted thoracohumeral elevation kinematics were validated against published empirical kinematics. Force-generating capacity of the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius, and serratus anterior were individually limited to 75%, 50%, and 25% maximal capacity to generate subsequent optimal control predictions of scapulothoracic kinematic changes associated with muscle weakness. Combined limited maximal force-generating capacity of lower trapezius and serratus anterior was also explored.
resultsModel-predicted scapulothoracic kinematics showed good agreement with reference data, yet some significant differences were identified below 55° thoracohumeral elevation. Fatigue-mediated kinematic changes were most apparent during sagittal plane elevation. Serratus anterior weakness displayed the largest scapulothoracic kinematic changes at all thresholds of limited force-generating capacity. It also prompted the largest compensatory muscle activity changes from other shoulder muscles, while upper trapezius weakness prompted very little compensatory changes in muscle activity.
conclusionOptimal control simulations were used to identify potential compensation mechanisms for shoulder muscle weakness and predict their effects on scapular kinematics. Findings suggest that thoracohumeral elevation in the scapular plane displayed less trapezius coactivity, both when 'weakened' and 'unweakened.' Thus, scapular plane tasks may isolate serratus anterior, while frontal plane tasks may achieve more balanced coactivation.
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