Diagnostics
The first indication is often the visible protruding shoulder blade. It should be found out what is causing the malposition of one or both shoulder blades. Therefore, the muscles around the shoulder blade can be tested for their functionality.
The test is carried out by measuring the nerve conduction velocity. This is a temporal measurement of the transmission of a nerve impulse. There are age-dependent standard values for this.
Significantly lower values can be an indication of damage or even paralysis of the nerve. Furthermore, the muscles themselves can also be checked for their function. Electromyography is used to measure the electrical muscle activity.
Injuries in the area of the flank are often visible and can also lead to damage to the nerves. If nerve damage is suspected, the doctor can also assess the extent of the damage by checking the mobility of the shoulder girdle. This includes raising the arm, lifting the shoulders, and various strength exercises.
Therapy
When treating scapula alata, conservative (non-surgical) measures are preferred. These include physiotherapy, muscle strengthening and electrotherapy. Targeted exercises are used to counteract the progression of the symptoms.
At the same time, the strengthening of the musculature should prevent further incorrect postures. In the case of nerve damage or traumatic injuries, electrotherapy can have a relaxing effect especially on a stressed serratus muscle. Furthermore, when pain occurs, drugs can be used to alleviate and inhibit inflammation.
In very pronounced cases, an operation can also be performed in which the shoulder blade is fixed to the chest. Physiotherapeutic exercises can be helpful in the case of a slight scapula alata, which is caused by a bad posture and is not due to nerve damage or muscle paralysis. The aim is to strengthen weak muscles and thus correct the protruding shoulder blades. Straightening the thoracic spine, strengthening the upper back and targeted training of the anterior serratus muscle are training points that can help to train a scapula alata partially or completely away due to poor posture.
