Abstract
Aims. The aim of this study was to clarify whether volleyball and handball players, as representatives of the so-called overhead athletes, already have an increased ROM and specific local hypermobility in the shoulder joints in the junior categories. These changes are described by goniometric measurements and hypermobility tests according to Sachse and Beighton. The results are examined with respect to gender and sport specialization. Methods. Ninety-five subjects without previous shoulder joint injury aged 16 to 19 years, including 73 volleyball and handball players, were tested. The cohort included 33 men, 40 women, 34 handball players and 39 volleyball players. The control group consisted of 22 participants, including 11 men and 11 women. The majority (90.5%) of the study participants were right-hand dominant. Only 9.5% of the participants were left-handed. Measurements were taken with a goniometer with digital display and hypermobility tests according to Sachse and Beighton. Results. In a selected group of volleyball and handball players, the ROM of the shoulder joints of the dominant arm was significantly greater in three ways: into extension, horizontal adduction and external rotation. On the other hand, the ROM of their shoulder joints in internal rotation is smaller and the research group has significant hypermobility in the glenohumeral (scapulohumeral) joint compared to the control group. Our study showed that females compared to males playing volleyball and handball have a significantly higher degree of internal rotation of both dominant and non-dominant arms. No significant differences were found when comparing volleyball and handball players. The difference in ROM between the dominant and non-dominant arms of volleyball and handball players was shown in extension and external rotation.
Highlights
Throwing above head level is an extremely complex and agile movement
The authors include “internal impingement”, which was first described in 1992 by the Tennis Association. Patients with this pathology usually have full range of motion (ROM), but on the dominant arm the external rotation is increased by 10° to 15° and the internal rotation is decreased by 10° to 15° compared to the non-dominant arm (Wilk et al, 2011)
Local hypermobility of the scapulohumeral joint, asymmetry of the ROM of the shoulder joints and the Beighton score for generalised hypermobility were demonstrated in athletes, which was represented in both groups evenly
Summary
The throwers arm must be sufficiently lax to allow excessive external rotation, but at the same time stable enough to prevent subluxations of the humeral head, which requires a balance between joint mobility and functional stability. We speak of this as the “throwers paradox”. This balance is very often disturbed and is thought to lead to various types of injuries to surrounding tissues. Among these injuries, the authors include “internal impingement”, which was first described in 1992 by the Tennis Association. Patients with this pathology usually have full range of motion (ROM), but on the dominant arm the external rotation is increased by 10° to 15° and the internal rotation is decreased by 10° to 15° compared to the non-dominant arm (Wilk et al, 2011)
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