Scapula kinematics of pull-up techniques: Avoiding impingement risk with training changes

Abstract Objectives Overhead athletic activities and scapula dyskinesia are linked with shoulder pathology; pull-ups are a common training method for some overhead sports. Different pull-up techniques exist: anecdotally some are easier to perform, and others linked to greater incidences of pathology. This study aims to quantify scapular kinematics and external forces for three pull-up techniques, thus discussing potential injury implications. Design An observational study was performed with eleven participants (age = 26.8 ± 2.4 years) who regularly perform pull-ups. Methods The upward motions of three pull-up techniques were analysed: palms facing anterior, palms facing posterior and wide-grip. A skin-fixed scapula tracking technique with attached retro-reflective markers was used. Results High intra-participant repeatability was observed: mean coefficients of multiple correlations of 0.87–1.00 in humerothoracic rotations and 0.77–0.90 for scapulothoracic rotations. Standard deviations of hand force was low: