Physical therapists routinely assess scapular position and motion

Physical therapists routinely assess scapular position and motion of the symptomatic shoulder taking as reference for the contralateral asymptomatic side. A different positioning between sides (scapular asymmetry) is often assumed as pathological, however, the symmetry of scapular kinematics in healthy individuals is yet to be demonstrated. 

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare 3D scapular kinematics of dominant and non-dominant shoulders in healthy individuals. The 3D scapular positioning of the dominant and non-dominant shoulders of fourteen healthy young adults was measured by an electromagnetic tracking device at three positions of arm elevation: rest, hands on hips, and 90 degree of shoulder abduction with internal rotation. The scapula on the dominant shoulder showed greater retraction and upward rotation at all positions of arm elevation. 

This study showed that at rest and throughout shoulder abduction, scapular positioning differs between dominant and non-dominant arms. This should be taken into consideration when comparing scapular position and motion of symptomatic and contralateral shoulders > from Morais et al.; Manual Therapy (2012) Epub ahead of print. All rights reserved to Elsevier Ltd.