Prognosis/healing
There are different healing options to treat a scapula alata. The therapy is mainly aimed at the cause of the disease. A light scapula alata can result from poor posture and can be improved with specific exercises.
If there is nerve damage, the prognosis depends on the extent of the damage. There are conservative and surgical treatment options which, in the best case, can also lead to an alleviation of symptoms in the case of nerve damage. Muscular dystrophy can also be associated with scapula alata. This is a serious clinical picture with limited treatment options.
Scapula alata in children
As in adults, scapula alata can also occur in children. The causes are similar. Slim children, for example, often show a distinct protrusion of the shoulder blades without any recognizable cause.
In many cases, this phenomenon diminishes again with the growth spurt. In children, muscular dystrophy can also be present, in which the shoulder blades protrude on both sides as a result of muscle breakdown. Congenital malformations or weakness in posture can also lead to the formation of a scapula alata.
They are particularly common in children of school age. Regularly carrying a heavy backpack or school bag puts a lot of strain on the muscles, but also on the nerves. This often results in various incorrect postures.
These can also regress with increasing age. In many cases, it is already then useful to carry out specific exercises with the child to reduce or avoid scapula alata. Parents should also pay attention to the posture and suitable backpacks.
