Therapeutic Exercises for Prevention and Rehabilitation of Sports Shoulder Injuries

Abstract

Aim: To analyze the functional effects of frequently used therapeutic exercises in the rehabilitation of athletes with shoulder injuries and to evaluate the possibility of their use in the prevention of sports shoulder injuries. Materials and Methods: The analysis of scientific literature based on the Web of Science database has been carried out. A computer search for the title “sports shoulder injury” revealed 2428 articles. Later, the search was specified. At the final stage, eight articles were analyzed. The analysis of selected articles suggests that the following exercises are recommended for the prevention and rehabilitation of shoulder injuries: proprioceptive, resistance exercises (e.g., kinesiology tape), passive exercises, exercises for the upper extremities with closed and open kinematic chains, isokinetic, plyometric and specialized sports exercises (depending on the sport). Besides therapeutic exercises, for the prevention of sports injuries of the shoulder, we admit it is appropriate to consider the method of kinesiology taping as a promising means of physical therapy. Conclusions: Among the therapeutic exercises to prevent of sports injuries of the shoulder, we consider promising proprioceptive, isokinetic, exercises with open and closed kinematic chain, exercises with resistance. It is necessary to study the feasibility of using these exercises and develop appropriate preventive measures and recommendations in the training process. It is also high-potential to study the effectiveness of combining therapeutic exercises with other means of physical rehabilitation.