Muscle recruitment during plyometric exercises in overhead athletes with and without shoulder pain.

•Overhead athletes with shoulder pain had higher muscle activity in the thoraco-humeral muscles, Pectoralis Major and Latissimus Dorsi, than healthy controls during plyometric rotational exercises.•Even though, not challenging the kinetic chain, overhead athletes with shoulder pain had higher muscle activity in the External Obliques muscles during the shoulder rotational exercises.•The shoulder pain group had higher activity in Middle Trapezius in prone position compared to healthy controls.•Training of the scapular muscles in isolation and in the kinetic chain are important treatment goals in the rehabilitation of an overhead athlete with shoulder problems.