Abstract
Background. The shoulder in CrossFit should have a balance between mobility and stability. Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and posterior shoulder stiffness are risk factors for overhead shoulder injury. Objective. To determine the effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and horizontal adduction stretch in CrossFit practitioners’ shoulders. Methods: Twenty-one regular CrossFitters were allocated to experimental (stretching with isometric contraction and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization) or control groups (instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization). Each session lasted 5 min, 2 days a week, over a period of 4 weeks. Shoulder internal rotation and horizontal adduction (digital inclinometer), as well as posterior shoulder stretch perception (Park scale), were evaluated. Shapiro–Wilk test was used to analyze the distribution of the sample. Parametric Student’s t-test was used to obtain the intragroup differences. The inter- and intra-rater differences were calculated using a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results. Average age was 30.81 years (SD: 5.35), with an average height of 178 (SD: 7.93) cm and average weight of 82.69 (SD: 10.82) kg. Changes were found in the experimental group following intervention (p < 0.05), and when comparing baseline and follow-up assessments (p < 0.05) in all variables. Significant differences were found in the control group following intervention (p < 0.05), in right horizontal adduction and left internal rotation. When comparing the perception of internal rotation and horizontal adduction in both groups, significant differences were found. Conclusions. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization can improve shoulder horizontal adduction and internal rotation. An instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization technique yields the same results alone as those achieved in combination with post-isometric stretch with shoulder adduction.
Highlights
CrossFit is a physical fitness system featuring the performance of a wide variety of exercises covering sports disciplines in addition to activities such as running, rowing, or cycling
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a physical therapy intervention through instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and horizontal adduction shoulder stretches in CrossFitters aged from 18 to 40 years
The study examined the effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and post-isometric horizontal adduction stretches in CrossFitters
Summary
CrossFit is a physical fitness system featuring the performance of a wide variety of exercises covering sports disciplines (weightlifting, powerlifting, and gymnastics) in addition to activities such as running, rowing, or cycling. With regard to the incidence of injuries in the practice of CrossFit, there is a scarce amount of data published in the literature [2], with an estimated rate of 3.1 injuries per 1000 h of training This prevalence is similar to that found in sports such as weightlifting, gymnastics, and rugby (3–3.3/1000 h). Unlike these, the burden does not rest exclusively on the dominant upper limb, but is shared between the two extremities [3] This sport requires a sufficiently lax shoulder to be able to reach extreme positions of movement above the head, but with enough stability to prevent luxation. Parametric Student’s t-test was used to obtain the intragroup differences. The inter- and intra-rater differences were calculated using a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA)
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