Laura M Schwab1, Peter Blanch. 1. Department of Physical Therapies, Australian Institute of Sport, ACT, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate variations in humeral torsion in elite male volleyball players and determine whether these changes are related to training history, retrospective injury history and volleyball performance. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross sectional design. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four elite male volleyball players. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Humeral torsion, passive gleno-humeral rotation ranges and the available internal and external rotation from the humeral torsion neutral position of the dominant and non-dominant arm were measured. Training history and retrospective injury status were ascertained from a questionnaire. Performance was assessed by coach perceived spiking ability and peak serve velocity measures. RESULTS: Humeral torsion angles demonstrated the dominant arm to be on average 9.6 degrees more retroverted than the non-dominant arm (p=0.00). In the comparison of volleyball players with and without a history of overuse upper limb injury the most significant finding is on the non-dominant side, those with a history of injury had significantly decreased available external rotation from the humeral torsion neutral position (mean difference=-15.1, p=0.04). There was an unexpected negative weak relationship between age commenced and decreased humeral retroversion (r=-0.413, p=0.045). There did not appear to be any relationship between humeral torsion and performance measures. CONCLUSION: The dominant arm of elite male volleyball athletes is more retroverted. There was a tendency for stronger findings in the non-dominant arm in volleyball players with retrospective injury history. We were unable to find any significant correlation between humeral torsion angle and performance measures.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate variations in humeral torsion in elite male volleyball players and determine whether these changes are related to training history, retrospective injury history and volleyball performance. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross sectional design. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four elite male volleyball players. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Humeral torsion, passive gleno-humeral rotation ranges and the available internal and external rotation from the humeral torsion neutral position of the dominant and non-dominant arm were measured. Training history and retrospective injury status were ascertained from a questionnaire. Performance was assessed by coach perceived spiking ability and peak serve velocity measures. RESULTS: Humeral torsion angles demonstrated the dominant arm to be on average 9.6 degrees more retroverted than the non-dominant arm (p=0.00). In the comparison of volleyball players with and without a history of overuse upper limb injury the most significant finding is on the non-dominant side, those with a history of injury had significantly decreased available external rotation from the humeral torsion neutral position (mean difference=-15.1, p=0.04). There was an unexpected negative weak relationship between age commenced and decreased humeral retroversion (r=-0.413, p=0.045). There did not appear to be any relationship between humeral torsion and performance measures. CONCLUSION: The dominant arm of elite male volleyball athletes is more retroverted. There was a tendency for stronger findings in the non-dominant arm in volleyball players with retrospective injury history. We were unable to find any significant correlation between humeral torsion angle and performance measures.
Authors: Joshua K Helmkamp; Garrett S Bullock; Allison Rao; Ellen Shanley; Charles Thigpen; Grant E Garrigues Journal: Sports Health Date: 2020-02-06 Impact factor: 3.843