Hee-Jin Kim; Anna Jeon; Je-Hun Lee & Hea Kyung Choi

Summary

This study aimed to investigate the anatomical morphology of the subscapular and axillary nerves originating from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus and to evaluate their potential clinical relevance in the management of shoulder pain among dancers. Ten cadaveric shoulders were dissected to identify the branching patterns of the subscapular and axillary nerves, followed by an 8- week exercise intervention involving eight female dancers experiencing mild shoulder discomfort. The results revealed four major types of posterior cord branching patterns. Post-intervention assessment demonstrated a marked decrease in shoulder pain, suggesting that strengthening muscles innervated by posterior cord branches may contribute to pain reduction and improved shoulder stability. These findings indicate that anatomical understanding of nerve distribution can inform exercise-based rehabilitation strategies for shoulder dysfunctions in dancers. KEY WORDS: Subscapular nerve; Axillary nerve; Shoulder pain; Brachial plexus; Cadaver dissection.

How to cite this article

KIM, H-J.; JEON, A.; LEE, J-H. & CHOI, H. K. Anatomical analysis of the subscapular and axillary nerves originating from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus and their functional relevance to shoulder pain relief in dancers. Int. J. Morphol., 44(2):493-497, 2026.