Final answer:
The common compensation during the wall elbow walk is an overactive latissimus dorsi, which can dominate the exercise intended for scapular muscles and shoulder mobility.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the wall elbow walk, a common compensation is the use of an overactive latissimus dorsi. The latissimus dorsi muscle, which moves the elbow back and helps in spreading the elbows apart, can dominate the movement when the scapular muscles are not functioning optimally. As a result, the exercise, which is intended to enhance shoulder mobility and strengthen the scapular muscles, may instead reinforce the overactivity of the latissimus dorsi.
The correct execution of the wall elbow walk exercise should involve the muscles that lift the arms at the shoulder and properly engage the scapular stabilizers. Ensuring that these muscles are working correctly can help prevent overreliance on the latissimus dorsi and promote balanced muscle development around the shoulder girdle.