The effects of individualized exercise training on rotator cuff injury in elite table tennis players

Abstract

Objective To observe any rehabilitative effects of individualized exercise training in the treatment of rotator cuff injury in elite table tennis players. Methods Forty table tennis players from the Chinese National Team were studied. Twenty (the experimental group) had rotator cuff injuries and 20 without the injury formed the control group. An individualized rehabilitation treatment protocol was prepared for each of the players in the experimental group and implemented twice weekly for a total of 8 weeks. There was no intervention for the control group. Before and after the treatment, both groups were assessed using a questionnaire for disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH), a motion assessment, and BIODEX isokinetic muscle testing. Results There were significant differences in average DASH scores between the two groups, with the experimental group scoring higher than the controls both before and after the treatment. Before the treatment, at angular velocities of 60°/s, 180°/s and 300°/s the peak moments of the ER (external rotation, ER) and IR (internal rotation, IR) muscles and the ER/IR ratio were all lower in the experimental group than among the controls. However, after the treatment the performance of the experimental group had improved in all three tests. Conclusion The ER/IR ratio of the dominant shoulder of table tennis players with rotator cuff injury is lower than that of the players without the injury, but individualized rehabilitation treatment can effectively increase the ratio and help to improve their shoulder function. Key words: Table tennis injuries; Rotator cuff injuries; Rehabilitation; Isokinetic muscle testing