Presence of scapular dysfunction in dominant shoulder of professional guitar players

Background. Playing guitar can cause adoption of asymmetric postures and affect the shoulder's stability. Objective. To assess the presence of scapular dysfunction in professional guitar players. Method. A lateral scapular slide test was performed at the level of the spine of the scapula and at the inferior angle of the scapula in 20 professional guitar players (age: 18–40 years) and was compared with 20 age-matched non-players at angles of 0°, 45° and 90° of shoulder abduction with both limbs loaded with 0.5-kg weights. Analysis was done by unpaired t test. Results. Scapular dysfunction in guitar players was seen in the form of asymmetric scapula at rest in 25% and dyskinetic scapula in 20% of players. 100% of non-players had normal scapular positioning. Comparison at the level of the spine of the scapula showed no significant difference (p?>?0.05), but the inferior angle showed a significant difference at 0° (1.37?cm), 45° (1.93?cm) and 90° (2.15?cm) which was more in the player's category (p?Conclusion. There exists a marked dysfunction of scapular stabilizers in professional guitar players at the level of the inferior angle of the scapula.     

Assessment of cervical range of motion,cervical core strength and scapular dyskinesia in violin players

Background. Playing the violin can lead to asymmetric postures which can affect the cervical range of motion, cervical core strength and scapular stability. Objective. The objective of the study was to assess the cervical range of motion, cervical core strength and scapular dyskinesia in violin players and non-players of the same age group. Methods. An inclinometer was used to assess the cervical range of motion, pressure biofeedback was used to assess cervical core strength and scapular dyskinesia was also assessed in 30 professional violin players (18–40 years) compared with 30 age-matched non-players. Analysis was done using an unpaired t test. Results. Significant change was seen with respect to extension (p?=?0.051), cervical core strength (p?=?0.005), right (Rt) superior angle 0° (p?=?0.004), Rt superior angle 45° (p?=?0.015) and Rt inferior angle 90° (p?=?0.013). Conclusion. This study shows a significant difference in extension range of motion and cervical core strength of violin players. Also, there was scapular dyskinesia seen at 0° and 45° right-side superior angle of the scapula and 90° right-side inferior angle of the scapula.     

Mild fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly as a prenatal sonographic marker for Kartagener syndrome

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), also referred to as immotile-cilia syndrome or Kartagener syndrome, is a group of genetic disorders caused by defective cilia leading to chronic sinupulmonary infection, situs inversus and reduced fertility. Some PCD patients also have cerebral ventriculomegaly or hydrocephalus. We report here two fetuses and one newborn with mild cerebral ventriculomegaly and a suspected and/or confirmed diagnosis of PCD. These cases demonstrate that mild fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly can be a prenatal sonographic marker of PCD, certainly in fetuses with situs inversus or a history of a previous sib with PCD. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.