Are serratus muscles the same as your abs in that you need to get a low BF% is order to see them?
Serratus muscles
- Thread starter ciarzy_boy
- Start date
all muscles are like that, if you think about it. Though some muscles are bigger and thus don't need very low fat in order to just be seen (but they still need low fat in order to be seen as very defined, so the less fat, the more visible the muscle will become. Some muscles just have a lower threshold of fat you need to get below in order for them to be seen at all.. sorta 
)
But yes, if you want your serratus to show, you need a very low bf, as it's a small muscle.
Training to develop the serratus is not a bad idea either, it can make it larger + the fact that the serratus anterior is involved in stabilizing the scapula. Doing pushups can help develop this muscle, as well as of course the chest, tris and shoulders. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the serratus anterior is a prime mover or anything like that in a pushup, but a pushup requires you to stabilize your shoulder blades, which is something the serratus assists with. Also, adding a "plus" at the end of the pushup by protracting the shoulder blades (pushing them forward) helps in activating the serratus aswell.
hope this helps.
) But yes, if you want your serratus to show, you need a very low bf, as it's a small muscle.
Training to develop the serratus is not a bad idea either, it can make it larger + the fact that the serratus anterior is involved in stabilizing the scapula. Doing pushups can help develop this muscle, as well as of course the chest, tris and shoulders. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the serratus anterior is a prime mover or anything like that in a pushup, but a pushup requires you to stabilize your shoulder blades, which is something the serratus assists with. Also, adding a "plus" at the end of the pushup by protracting the shoulder blades (pushing them forward) helps in activating the serratus aswell.
hope this helps.
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Thats exactly what I wanted to know, start to finish.
Karky you are a knowledgeable man
Karky you are a knowledgeable man
nice explaination, Karky!
I always find it funny going to gyms and hearing the trainers refer to this muscle as if it is the prime mover of pushing exercises. It usually comes after the pecs. LOL
That not saying it isn't an important muscle. Has a pretty significant role to do as far as stabilizing the scapula. But in that respect, why not mention the other dozen muscles acting on the scapula in a pushing exercise?
It's one of those muscles that receives so much attention because it looks pretty damn cool
I always find it funny going to gyms and hearing the trainers refer to this muscle as if it is the prime mover of pushing exercises. It usually comes after the pecs. LOL
That not saying it isn't an important muscle. Has a pretty significant role to do as far as stabilizing the scapula. But in that respect, why not mention the other dozen muscles acting on the scapula in a pushing exercise?
It's one of those muscles that receives so much attention because it looks pretty damn cool
Yeah, that's very true! One of the reasons I like pushups so much is because how you need to stabilize the shoulders. A lot of people go on about their rotator cuff when the problem really lies in the muscles stabilizing the scapula.
What other muscles are there I should be aware of that stabilize the scapulae? the traps, rhomboinds, and the rest of the large muscles that can act on the scap, but what about the smaller ones?
And do people really mention the serratus as if it was one of the prime movers of pushing exercises? that's pretty weird
Anyways, the serratus wouldn't be very active in exercises like the bench press, since there is not a lot of need for stabilizing the scapula when they are retracted pushed down against the bench, is there?
I was going reaching on this one. In all actuality, any muscle that surrounds the shoulder joint (lats, pecs, bis, tris, traps, rhomb, rotator cuff, teres major...etc) all work together to stabilize the shoulder, which, in effect, helps stabilize the scapula. I was just being a smart ass.
smart arse, lol
And wouldn't there be a difference between muscles acting directly on the scapula and those acting indirectly on the scapula through the shoulder? Like if you've got a problem with the muscles acting directly on the scapula (serratus; traps, specially middle and lower fibers; etc) wouldn't working the muscles that are indirectly stabilizing the scapula (for example the RC muscles) be sort of ineffective since the problem doesn't begin there. Sure you might get RC problems, but they might be because your serratus and traps are weak, then you working your RC to death wouldn't really fix anything, would it?
I'm sore in my serratus today from pushups, actually.. probably because I do the plus thing on top. Gotta say I'm one of those who love some good serratus development, they cover the ribs quite well, and I don't like having my upper ribs stick out and be really visible, which they will be at low BF if it wasn't for the serratus
smart arse, lol
And wouldn't there be a difference between muscles acting directly on the scapula and those acting indirectly on the scapula through the shoulder? Like if you've got a problem with the muscles acting directly on the scapula (serratus; traps, specially middle and lower fibers; etc) wouldn't working the muscles that are indirectly stabilizing the scapula (for example the RC muscles) be sort of ineffective since the problem doesn't begin there. Sure you might get RC problems, but they might be because your serratus and traps are weak, then you working your RC to death wouldn't really fix anything, would it?
I'm sore in my serratus today from pushups, actually.. probably because I do the plus thing on top. Gotta say I'm one of those who love some good serratus development, they cover the ribs quite well, and I don't like having my upper ribs stick out and be really visible, which they will be at low BF if it wasn't for the serratus
^^^ plus your ribs are pretty vunerable and it would suck to get one stuck in your lung.
You are correct in everything your said regarding training the RC for a scap problem. Weak rhomboids are also a crucial indicator of reduced scap stability.
Yeah, that's very true! One of the reasons I like pushups so much is because how you need to stabilize the shoulders. A lot of people go on about their rotator cuff when the problem really lies in the muscles stabilizing the scapula.
What other muscles are there I should be aware of that stabilize the scapulae? the traps, rhomboinds, and the rest of the large muscles that can act on the scap, but what about the smaller ones?
And do people really mention the serratus as if it was one of the prime movers of pushing exercises? that's pretty weird
Anyways, the serratus wouldn't be very active in exercises like the bench press, since there is not a lot of need for stabilizing the scapula when they are retracted pushed down against the bench, is there?
You're in the 1-10% of people who actually do push-ups correctly, Karky
Most people who do push-ups do them wrong.