For eliciting shoulder movement in a hemiplegic shoulder via NMES, which muscle is a common target for electrode placement?

For eliciting shoulder movement in a hemiplegic shoulder via NMES, which muscle is a common target for electrode placement?

• A. Supraspinatus
• B. Infraspinatus
• C. Middle delt
• D. Anterior delt

Answer: (A)

The key idea is to use NMES to start shoulder movement and stabilize the joint in a weak arm. The supraspinatus is a rotator cuff muscle that initiates shoulder abduction, helping to lift the arm while keeping the humeral head centered in the glenoid. Electrically stimulating this muscle can produce the initial shoulder raise and support proper alignment, which is especially important in a hemiplegic shoulder prone to subluxation. The other muscles listed either mainly rotate the arm (infraspinatus) or are larger movers that may produce less controlled movement when stimulated alone (middle or anterior deltoid). So targeting the supraspinatus provides the most reliable start to abduction with joint stabilization.

The key idea is to use NMES to start shoulder movement and stabilize the joint in a weak arm. The supraspinatus is a rotator cuff muscle that initiates shoulder abduction, helping to lift the arm while keeping the humeral head centered in the glenoid. Electrically stimulating this muscle can produce the initial shoulder raise and support proper alignment, which is especially important in a hemiplegic shoulder prone to subluxation. The other muscles listed either mainly rotate the arm (infraspinatus) or are larger movers that may produce less controlled movement when stimulated alone (middle or anterior deltoid). So targeting the supraspinatus provides the most reliable start to abduction with joint stabilization.