Scapular Dyskinesis in Shoulder Pain Conditions: A Correlational Study

Objectives Shoulder disorders, affecting 15-25% of patients seeking orthopedic and physiotherapy care, often involve scapular dyskinesia (SD), which is an abnormality in scapulothoracic rhythm. Altered scapular kinematics may contribute to or worsen conditions like rotator cuff tears, but the relationship between SD and shoulder pain remains unclear. This correlational study aims to explore the connection between SD and shoulder pain conditions, assess the prevalence of SD, and identify SD subgroups within these conditions. Material and Methods Thirty-five participants aged 40-60 years were enrolled over six months. Scapular dyskinesis was evaluated using the dynamic scapular dyskinesis test (SDT), and shoulder pain and disability were assessed with the Oxford shoulder score. Point biserial correlation analysis was performed on the collected data. Results The study found a moderate positive correlation between scapular dyskinesis and shoulder pain and disability, though this correlation was not statistically significant for either shoulder (left: r=0.277, P=0.108; right: r=0.286, P=0.096). These findings suggest an intermediate relationship between SD and shoulder pain/disability, but further research is needed to clarify whether improving SD leads to functional improvement. Conclusion The study concluded that there is an intermediate positive correlation between scapular dyskinesis and shoulder pain and disability in among the subjects having shoulder pain conditions but was not statistically significant for both the shoulders. Future studies should explore whether there is causal effect between improvement in scapular dyskinesis and function.