Shoulder sensorimotor control in overhead athletes: A pilot study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Variations in both afferent proprioceptive information and efferent motor responses of the shoulder have been separately reported in overhead athletes. OBJECTIVES: We used a validated force platform method to examine shoulder sensorimotor control adaptation to overhead sports by analysing the change in Center of Pressure (CoP) in overhead athletes compared to control subjects. METHODS: Thirty healthy subjects were divided into four groups: squash players (SG), javelin throwers (JG) and two representative matched control groups of nonathletic healthy subjects, respectively. CoP displacements were measured by a force platform in the upper limb weight-bearing position with the lower limbs resting on a table up to the anterior superior iliac spines. RESULTS: There were significant side-to-side differences for SG ( P< 0.05); while not for JG and control groups. There were higher stabilometric values on the dominant side for SG and JG than their respective controls ( P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that the thrower’s shoulder variations could include and/or induce a deficiency in shoulder sensorimotor control of the throwing side.