I have read Don Alessi’s description of how to determine if you have winging countless times, but I can’t figure out what he means. I have had a nurse look at the article too, and she couldn’t figure it out either. How do you determine my looking at your back if you have winging? By the way, I have gotten great help here on the forum before. Thanks!
I haven’t read the article, but if you are referring to scapular winging, you’d know…the scapula sticks out VISIBLY from the back, looks really odd.
You have to look at the medial border of the scapula. If you can see it or palpate rather easily than you might have weak subscap or tight pec minor. If you can not see it easily than you might not have winging scapulas. A visit to a chiropractor or structual intergrator may be helpful here.
I’m no doc, neither am I a nurse, but “The test for scapular winging is this: if you can see or feel the medial angle of the shoulder blade (inside edge of the spine — between 5 and 11 o’clock), you’ve got winging.” - would seem to me, a very easy thing for someone in the medical profession to read.
winging can be caused by a weak or injured long thoracic nerve which supplies some of the scapular muscles.
Can one train to correct this?
Remove your shirt, place boths palms on a wall directly in front of you. Lean forward, as if you are coming down from a push-up. Have someone observe from behind you. If the medial border of the scapula stands out, especially at its inferior angle, you may have this condition. Also, the arm cannot be abducted farther than the horizontal position. Therefore you would not be able to raise your arm fully, or to push with it (as when ringing a doorbell). This condition is a consequence of a paralyzed serratus anterior muscle, innervated by the long thoracic nerve.