Andrea Hams1, Kerrie Evans2, Roger Adams3, Gordon Waddington3, Jeremy Witchalls3. 1. Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Australia; Queensland Academy of Sport, Sport Performance Innovation and Knowledge Excellence Unit, Australia; School of Allied of Health Sciences, Griffith University, Australia. Electronic address: a.hams@griffith.edu.au. 2. Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia; School of Allied of Health Sciences, Griffith University, Australia; Healthia Ltd, Australia. 3. Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether pre-season shoulder ROM and strength can be used to identify athletes at risk of future shoulder injury. DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: High performance sports institute. PARTICIPANTS: 76 sub-elite water polo players. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean pre-season shoulder internal (IR) and external rotation (ER) ROM and strength values compared by gender, dominance and prospective injury status. RESULTS: 14-dominant shoulder injuries were recorded. There was a significant difference (p = 0.05) in total ROM difference (TROM) between the prospectively injured and no injury groups (-17.2°(30.4);-0.8°(13.3)), and dominant side ER strength (11.7%(2.4) vs 14.5%(2.8), p = 0.03) and IR strength (16.5%(3.0) vs 21.6%(4.9) as a percentage body weight (PBW) were also significantly different (p ≤ 0.03). Separate significant associations were found between future episodes of shoulder injury and; dominant shoulder TROM difference of ≥7.5°(OR 3.6,95%CI 0.8-16.0), ER strength as a PBW≤12.5%(OR 5.2,95%CI 1.0-27.9), and IR strength as a PBW≤16.8%(OR 13.8,95%CI 2.2-88.0). CONCLUSION: Pre-season dominant TROM difference, and reduced shoulder IR and ER strength relative to body weight were significant predictors for future shoulder injury. Although further investigation with a larger sample size is required, achieving optimal values on these measures may reduce future episodes of shoulder injury in water polo players.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether pre-season shoulder ROM and strength can be used to identify athletes at risk of future shoulder injury. DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: High performance sports institute. PARTICIPANTS: 76 sub-elite water polo players. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean pre-season shoulder internal (IR) and external rotation (ER) ROM and strength values compared by gender, dominance and prospective injury status. RESULTS: 14-dominant shoulder injuries were recorded. There was a significant difference (p = 0.05) in total ROM difference (TROM) between the prospectively injured and no injury groups (-17.2°(30.4);-0.8°(13.3)), and dominant side ER strength (11.7%(2.4) vs 14.5%(2.8), p = 0.03) and IR strength (16.5%(3.0) vs 21.6%(4.9) as a percentage body weight (PBW) were also significantly different (p ≤ 0.03). Separate significant associations were found between future episodes of shoulder injury and; dominant shoulder TROM difference of ≥7.5°(OR 3.6,95%CI 0.8-16.0), ER strength as a PBW≤12.5%(OR 5.2,95%CI 1.0-27.9), and IR strength as a PBW≤16.8%(OR 13.8,95%CI 2.2-88.0). CONCLUSION: Pre-season dominant TROM difference, and reduced shoulder IR and ER strength relative to body weight were significant predictors for future shoulder injury. Although further investigation with a larger sample size is required, achieving optimal values on these measures may reduce future episodes of shoulder injury in water polo players.
Authors: Diego Longo; Enrico Branchi; Pietro Matucci-Cerinic; Maria Angela Bagni; Marco Matucci-Cerinic; Daniela Melchiorre Journal: J Ultrasound Date: 2022-01-20