Question

During a pushing assessment, your client's shoulders elevate. Which of the following muscles would most likely be underactive?

1) Pectoralis major
2) Rhomboids
3) Trapezius
4) Latissimus dorsi

Answer 1

When a client's shoulders elevate during a pushing assessment, it usually points to underactivity of the rhomboids, which are responsible for stabilizing and retracting the scapula.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a pushing assessment, when a client's shoulders elevate, it suggests that certain muscles may not be functioning optimally.

If the shoulders elevate, the muscles that typically depress the scapula and keep the shoulders in a more neutral position may be underactive.

Among the muscles listed, the trapezius is responsible for scapular elevation, retraction, and rotation, which positions the pectoral girdle.

However, if the shoulders are elevating excessively, it could indicate that the rhomboids (rhomboid major and rhomboid minor), which work to retract and stabilize the scapula, are underactive.

While the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi are prime movers of the humerus and are not primarily responsible for scapular stabilization in the context of shoulder elevation during a pushing motion.