Abstract
Poor posture negatively influences the function of organs. With the use of the skipping rope, the external and internal rotators of the shoulder can be activated.
Functions of upper limb and of the axial system are linked. The external rotators, scapulothoracic muscles, help to erect the upper body.
This pilot study tries to analyse kinematics of upper thoracic spine during simulated rope skipping. Three female subjects aged 28 +- 2 years, weight 56 kg +- 2 kg, height 167 cm +- 8 cm (mean +- SD) without pathology or injury of the shoulder girdle and spine were recruited.
Subjects rotated the special training jump rope in two directions (forward and backward) at two different rotation speeds. Kinematic analysis (Qualisys) was used for determining the range of motion of external humeral rotation and extension of thoracic spine.
During maximum speed forward rope rotation, curvature of upper thoracic spine was decreased.