In many cases, serratus anterior muscle pain treatment is similar to other muscle pain treatments. Injury to the long thoracic nerve causing paralysis or weakness of the serratus anterior muscle can be disabling. Its purpose is to protract or pull around the shoulder blade as we reach forward. Your lymphatic system helps to … Because the serratus anterior is located on the underside of the shoulder blade near the inner ribs, it’s hard to target and is often a neglected muscle. Weak serratus anterior muscle would result in winging of the scapula medial border. If you do not have strength and/or control of this very important muscle, it can lead to scapular winging. Shoulder impingement occurs as a result of repeated irritation or pinching of long head… (This whole blog post will be going through a range of different Serratus Anterior Exercises) Many of the following techniques can even be done at home. However true scapular winging as a result of nerve damage to the long thoracic nerve innervating the serratus anterior muscle or other nerve palsy’s are both more disabling and fortunately not as common. The long thoracic nerve innervates the serratus anterior; therefore, damage to or impingement of this nerve can result in … By protracting the shoulder blade the bone is in a more supportive position to allow the rotator cuff to do its job. Serratus Anterior Weakness. Patient in standing or sitting position. A condition known as Parsonage-Turner Syndrome may affect your brachial plexus and the long thoracic nerve. It is utilized vigorously in push-ups and bench presses. The serratus anterior slow our descent from High Plank into Chaturanga. It attaches onto the under surface of the shoulder blade and to the side of the rib cage. Serratus anterior (SA) holds the scapula to the wall of the thorax. The rhomboids are shortened and contracted. The most common sign of serratus anterior dysfunction is winging of the scapula. Serratus Anterior Muscle Pain Treatment. Actions. Today I want to discuss one of the biggest contributors in shoulder impingement injuries, weakness of the serratus anterior. In my clinical practice thus far, I have seen several different ways of testing the serratus anterior, but it is … Step4. Exercises to strengthen serratus anterior are important for those who wish to remain fit, who are involved in sports and athletics, those who have injuries causing weak serratus anterior or those with joint and muscle conditions. EXAMINATION Muscle Function: Origin Fixed: • Abduction (protraction) of the scapula. Sometimes, serratus anterior weakness and winging of the scapula can occur for no apparent reason. A further modification is the serratus plane block, in which local anesthetic is injected between the serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi muscles. Serratus Anterior Strength Test or Push Out Test is used to examine the serratus anterior muscle weakness and scapula winging. The serratus anterior muscle is capable of providing both a protraction and upward rotation force. The serratus anterior is a muscle located on the lateral sides of the upper rib cage. Luckily, there are a number of ways you can treat serratus anterior muscle pain, most of which can be done in your own home, simply and safely. This last issue is a particular concern as it can lead to a backlog of toxins in the breast tissue and lymph nodes. Serratus anterior weakness was highlighted as detrimental, with the model unable to fully solve the loadsharing redundancy in its absence, and forces at the elbow and glenohumeral joint and in other muscles were found to be profoundly increased. It runs laterally around the rib cage, passes underneath the scapula to insert on its medial border. Multiple papers (here, here) have shown is that when this muscle becomes weakened or fails to properly activate, it can lead to unwanted movement within the shoulder joint and the shoulder blades.And this then creates various dysfunctions, such as: A forward rounded posture (Read my previous article: How To Fix Rounded … Although an unappreciated muscle, the serratus anterior plays a significant role in stabilizing the shoulder joint and shoulder blade. This is an uncommon condition and may arise from traumatic injury to the nerve supplying the serratus anterior muscle, the long thoracic nerve; or due to damage to the nerve from pressure lesions or a neuritis (inflammation of the nerve). For one, it prevents winged scapula, a condition that can occur when your serratus anterior muscle is weak or dysfunctional. “When the serratus anterior muscles are weak, they contribute to neck problems, rotator cuff issues and scapular winging (damage to the long thoracic nerve of the shoulder),” Carnevale says. When these muscles are weak, we come crashing down. Picture 1. From a systemic perspective, the serratus plays a major role in shoulder positioning which can enhance lymphatic drainage. A winged scapula , also called scapular winging is when one of your shoulder blades sticks out; it makes performing everyday movement like picking up your child or carrying groceries difficult. 1. This muscle helps spread the ribs for a great inhale. What seems to strike me as odd is how weak my serratus anterior is. Weak Serratus Anterior Muscles Can Lead To Various Dysfunctions. The second commonly thought of function for the serratus anterior is ‘protraction’ of the shoulder blade, pushing it forward relative to the body in a punching motion. Actions on the scapula: Serratus anterior holds the scapula close to the rib cage and thus stabilizes it.During a forward movement of the upper arm, like during a boxing punch, it abducts (moves laterally, away from the spine) and protracts it (brings it forward). One of the most common injuries seen in any overhead activities such as welding, painting, weightlifting, swimming and baseball/softball is shoulder impingement. This brachial neuritis may cause weakness in your serratus and … 8 Great Exercises You Should Try If your serratus anterior muscles become weak, this can lead to rotator cuff issues, neck problems, lymphatic return in the armpits, poor circulation and numbness down your arm. Signs That Your Serratus Anterior May Have Challenges. Serratus Anterior: The Serratus Anterior muscle is utilized in activities which draw the scapula forwards. Technique. Also, feel free to check out our blog, The Daily Bandha. Therefore, damage to this muscle can result in … Visualize the serratus anterior expanding the chest. • Upward rotation of the scapula and rotates the glenoid cavity cranially. Romero and Gerber reported poorer outcomes in the presence of an more serratus anterior palsy or weak rhomboid muscle. Winged scapula is a designator having a weak Serratus Anterior muscle. During the summer of 2015, I decided to really find the culprit behind my lacking overhead press performance, and eventually I found it: weak upward rotation and weak serratus anterior muscles. Here are a few tell tale signs that tell you that your serratus anterior may be struggling: 1. 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