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The Scapular Anchor Setting the Protruding Shoulder Blade

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Glossary of Terms
(For this exercise, you need feedback as to whether the point of your shoulder blade is protruding or not. For ease of illustration, the accompanying pictures demonstrate use of the opposite thumb to get that feedback. It is actually easier to get that feedback by leaning your back against the wall - the instructions below use the wall method of feedback).
First Protrude the Shoulder Blade:-
  1. Lean back against the wall.
  2. Stand relaxed and point with your right arm at a spot on the floor.
  3. Move the arm until you can feel the shoulder blade protruding into the wall behind you.
Correcting the Protruding Shoulder Blade:- Action
(Note: maintain a relaxed shoulder throughout)
  1. Raise the shoulder of your pointing arm.
  2. Take the point of the shoulder backwards toward the wall behind you. (The shoulder blade will now be flush with the ribs and no longer protruding).
  3. Keep your neck and shoulder relaxed by lengthening your shoulder sideways (away from your neck),
  4. Roll your shoulder blade away from your ear.
  5. "Glue your shoulder blade to your ribs".
(Exercises alone will not fix or prevent protruding shoulder blades - you need to become totally "posturally aware". In severe cases of shoulder blade protrusion, there may be a surgically treatable nerve deficit - see ref (2) >>>>....)
Pictures:- Use of the thumg to Monitor Protruding Shoulder Blade Scapular anchor 1 Scapular Anchor 2 Scapular Anchor 3
Pictures: Top Row - Protruding Shoulder Blade - the corner of the shoulder blade has lifted away from the underlying ribs. Bottomn row - Protruding Shoulder Blade corrected.
Picture of Scapular Winging Scapular Tilting and Winging
Picture of Scapular Winging Scapular Tilting and Winging
Working the Scapular Anchors: This exercise works the "Scapular Anchors": The Lower Trapezius & the Serratus anterior. These muscles are often weak, causing the shoulder blade to be poorly positioned. Poor shoulder blade positioning contributes to shoulder impingement pain and rotator cuff injuries(1). It is associated with kyphosis, swayback, and also scoliosis(3). Avoid Protruding Shoulder blades! -you will look better and save yourself a lot of pain!
Pictures of the Scapular Anchors: Left - The lower trapezius. Right - The Serratus anterior (viewed from the front).
LwTrapez.jp SerAnt.jpg
Important: Avoid neck and shoulder tension! While working your "scapular anchor muscles", place a hand on the arrowed parts to confirm that they are relaxed. LatDorsi3.jpg
Reference
1. Shirley A Sahrmann: Diagnosis of and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes Publ. Mosby 2002
2. Steven Fromm: Treatment, Management, Pictures, Scapular Winging
3. C Lehnert-Schroth Inro to 3-D Scolisosis Treatment -
Prevention of Protruding Shoulder Blades © Bruce Thomson, EasyVigour Project scroll up^^^^.....