Ann M Cools1, Tanneke Palmans, Fredrik R Johansson. 1. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium;
Abstract
CONTEXT: Tennis requires repetitive overhead movements that can lead to upper extremity injury. The scapula and the shoulder play a vital role in injury-free playing. Scapular dysfunction and glenohumeral changes in strength and range of motion (ROM) have been associated with shoulder injury in the overhead athlete. OBJECTIVE: To compare scapular position and strength and shoulder ROM and strength between Swedish elite tennis players of 3 age categories (<14, 14-16, and >16 years). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Tennis training sports facilities. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-nine adolescent Swedish elite tennis players (ages 10-20 years) selected based on their national ranking. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We used a clinical screening protocol with a digital inclinometer and a handheld dynamometer to measure scapular upward rotation at several angles of arm elevation, isometric scapular muscle strength, glenohumeral ROM, and isometric rotator cuff strength. RESULTS: Players older than 16 years showed less scapular upward rotation on the dominant side at 90° and 180° (P < .05). Although all absolute scapular muscle strength values increased with age, there was no change in the body-weight-normalized strength of the middle (P = .9) and lower (P = .81) trapezius or serratus anterior (P = .17). Glenohumeral internal-rotation ROM and total ROM tended to decrease, but this finding was not statistically significant (P = .052 and P = .06, respectively). Whereas normalized internal-rotator strength increased from 14 to 16 years to older than 16 years (P = .009), normalized external-rotator and supraspinatus strength remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Age-related changes in shoulder and scapular strength and ROM were apparent in elite adolescent tennis players. Future authors should examine the association of these adaptations with performance data and injury incidence.
CONTEXT: Tennis requires repetitive overhead movements that can lead to upper extremity injury. The scapula and the shoulder play a vital role in injury-free playing. Scapular dysfunction and glenohumeral changes in strength and range of motion (ROM) have been associated with shoulder injury in the overhead athlete. OBJECTIVE: To compare scapular position and strength and shoulder ROM and strength between Swedish elite tennis players of 3 age categories (<14, 14-16, and >16 years). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Tennis training sports facilities. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-nine adolescent Swedish elite tennis players (ages 10-20 years) selected based on their national ranking. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We used a clinical screening protocol with a digital inclinometer and a handheld dynamometer to measure scapular upward rotation at several angles of arm elevation, isometric scapular muscle strength, glenohumeral ROM, and isometric rotator cuff strength. RESULTS: Players older than 16 years showed less scapular upward rotation on the dominant side at 90° and 180° (P < .05). Although all absolute scapular muscle strength values increased with age, there was no change in the body-weight-normalized strength of the middle (P = .9) and lower (P = .81) trapezius or serratus anterior (P = .17). Glenohumeral internal-rotation ROM and total ROM tended to decrease, but this finding was not statistically significant (P = .052 and P = .06, respectively). Whereas normalized internal-rotator strength increased from 14 to 16 years to older than 16 years (P = .009), normalized external-rotator and supraspinatus strength remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Age-related changes in shoulder and scapular strength and ROM were apparent in elite adolescent tennis players. Future authors should examine the association of these adaptations with performance data and injury incidence.
Entities:
Keywords:
range of motion; rotator cuff strength; scapular muscle strength; scapular position; upper extremity
Authors: Todd S Ellenbecker; E Paul Roetert; David S Bailie; George J Davies; Scott W Brown Journal: Med Sci Sports Exerc Date: 2002-12 Impact factor: 5.411
Authors: Jonathan C Reeser; Glenn S Fleisig; Ann M J Cools; Darcie Yount; Scott A Magnes Journal: Br J Sports Med Date: 2012-04-25 Impact factor: 13.800
Authors: Ann M J Cools; Fran Vanderstukken; Frédéric Vereecken; Mattias Duprez; Karel Heyman; Nick Goethals; Fredrik Johansson Journal: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc Date: 2015-08-21 Impact factor: 4.342
Authors: Ann M Cools; Dorien Borms; Birgit Castelein; Fran Vanderstukken; Fredrik R Johansson Journal: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc Date: 2015-12-24 Impact factor: 4.342
Authors: Jose R Perez; Dustin Massel; Carlos M Barrera; Michael G Baraga; Juan Pretell-Mazzini; Lee D Kaplan; Jean Jose Journal: J Clin Orthop Trauma Date: 2017-11-24
Authors: Fredrik R Johansson; Eva Skillgate; Anders Adolfsson; Göran Jenner; Edin DeBri; Leif Swärdh; Ann M Cools Journal: J Athl Train Date: 2015-12-10 Impact factor: 2.860