Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe instantaneous moment arms of the scapular rotators during arm elevation. Thirteen male subjects performed humeral elevation in the scapular plane. The locations of the origin and insertion of the scapular rotators (trapezius, pectoralis minor, rhomboid and serratus anterior) was determined using the existing skeletal model of the scapula and thorax. Based on the helical axis, the instantaneous scapular rotation axis were computed. Then, the instantaneous moment arms of the scapular rotators relative to the scapular rotation axis were calculated. During humeral elevation, the lengths of the moment arms were changed depending on the muscle fascicles. Only the serratus anterior had muscle fascicles whose moment arms were opposite for the scapular rotation in the same muscle. These results indicate the functions of scapular rotators for scapular rotation during humeral elevation.
