Effects of Muscle Energy Technique in Increasing Range of Motion and Strength of Glenohumeral Internal Rotator, in Athletes with Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit

Sonakshi Sehgal

doi:10.11648/j.ajss.20160402.14

Abstract

Study design: Randomized control trial. Objective: To measure the effect muscle energy technique(MET) for the glenohumeral joint external rotators to improve the range of motion and strength of internal rotators in athletes with glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD). Background: Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit is one of the leading causes of impairments in overhead throwing athletes. Anatomical GIRD is though considered to be normal in overhead athletes but it may further lead to osseous and capsuloligamentous changes in the glenohumeral joint if not treated. The muscle energy technique protocol aimed at improving the range of motion and strength of the internal rotators of the glenohumeral joint. It has been hypothesized that MET will increase the glenohumeral internal rotation ROM and strength in athletes with GIRD. Methods: thirty overhead athletes were conveniently assigned in two groups. MET for glenohumeral joint external rotators (n=15) and stretching for glenohumeral joint external rotators (n=15). We measured the range of motion of glenohumeral joint internal rotation and strength of glenohumeral joint internal rotators, of the dominant shoulder at 0 day, 1st week and 2nd week. At the end of 2nd week data analysis was done using one way ANOVA and post hoc tukey’s test and significant results were found. (p < 0.05). Results: The group treated with MET for the external rotators had a significant increase in internal rotation at the end of 2nd week. The group treated with stretching for external rotators do not showed a significant increase in internal rotation. Conclusion: It is concluded that MET is an effective treatment for increasing the ROM and strength of internal rotation at the glenohumeral joint in asymptomatic overhead athletes. Therefore application of MET for the external rotators may be useful for increasing the ROM as well as strength in overhead athletes.

Highlights

The glenohumeral joint is the most important joint of the shoulder girdle
Glenehumeral internal rotation & isometric strength of internal rotator muscle was measured as outcome measure before the starting of treatment and after 1st & 2nd week
The decrease in glenohumeral internal rotation in overhead athletes in the dominant shoulder is noted in past researches

Summary

Introduction

The glenohumeral joint is the most important joint of the shoulder girdle. It is a synovial, ball and socket joint between the humeral head and glenoid fossa of the scapula (William Cornelis 1998). The glenohumeral joint is typically described as having the following 3 degrees of rotational freedom, that are, plane of motion, elevation, and internal and external rotation Many of the traditional studies of shoulder motion have primarily focused on shoulder elevation, but there has been considerable interest of late, in measuring internal and external rotation along the long axis of the humerus (Reagan KM et al 2002)

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