Is Your Shoulder “S.I.C.K.”?
March 16, 2009

What is a S.I.C.K. Scapula?

A term first coined in this 2003 study:

A SICK Scapula is a shoulder blade that has "swung out" to the side (note the red outline compared to the black outline):

and looks like this (note the lowered Right Shoulder in "A" and "B"):

as well as having a shoulder blade that sticks out on the bottom (note the left shoulder blade):

What Causes a SICK Scapula?

Tightness of a chest muscle called the Pec Minor muscle:

Weakness of the Lower Lat Muscle:

and Serratus Anterior muscle:

allowing the bottom of the shoulder blade to stick out:

How Can I Heal My "SICK" Scapula?

• NOTHING BEATS JUMPING ROPE. click here to find out how it can strengthen your shoulder.

• Rubber Tubing Exercise - External Rotation with towel under arm
  

and this can be done with a 5-lb. dumbbell while lying down:

• Dumbbell exercises. Face-Down Row with 2-lb dumbbell:
  

Face Down Arm Extension:

Make sure to do the exercise along the line of the shoulder blade:

Side Shoulder Raise (Thumb-Up) with 2-lb. dumbbell:

• Scapula Push-Up:

Note the flattening of the shoulder blade (left) and the squeezing of the shoulder blades in the finished position (Right)

• The "Sleeper" Stretch:

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