There may not be any more important muscle in the shoulder complex for swimmers then the Serratus Anterior. This small muscle originates from the rib cage (specifically ribs 1 to 8) and inserts into the medial border of the scapula. This muscle actively protracts the scapula or rolls the shoulder blade forward but also plays a big role in controlling the upward rotation of the scapula with bringing the arm up overhead. For swimmers this muscle aids their stroke by promoting proper scapula movement throughout overhead positioning of the shoulder. In fact, EMG studies have shown that the Serratus Anterior is the only muscle that has muscle activation throughout the entire stroke. This means that during both the catch and pull phases the Serratus has to aid in stabilizing the shoulder and scapula.
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