Upper Limb Force Parameters In Tennis, Swimming And Basketball Elite Portuguese Female Athletes (16 - 18)

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare upper limb force in elite young women athletes from three different sports: tennis players (TP), swimmers (SW) and basketball players (BP). METHODS: 29 young females (16 – 18 years old) participated in the study, divided in three groups: TP (n=9), SW (n=10) and BP (n=9). All participants were athletes of the Portuguese national teams. Concentric strength measures for both arms were performed on a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer at 60 and 180°/s. The subjects were seated with the arm positioned in 45° abduction in the scapular plane and elbow flexed to 90°. Isometric maximum force and the maximum rate of force development were measured in a bench press type of exercise. To examine between-group differences we used the ANOVA and a-posteriori test with a level of significance of p<0.05. RESULTS: The peak torque of arm internal rotation (IR) was significantly (p<.05) higher in both arms in the SW compared with TP and BP, for the velocity of 60°/s. At 180°/s the SW presented significantly (p<.00) higher internal rotation than the BP but no differences were found between SW and TP. The peak torque of the external rotation (ER) force was significantly (p<.01) lower in the TP than in the SW and BP for both arms and at both velocities. A significant (p<.03) higher ER:IR ratio was found in both arms and velocities for the BP (dominant arm − 78% and 76% at 60°/s and 180°/s; nondominant arm − 70% and 69%), than for the TP (dominant arm − 53% and 44%; nondominant arm − 58% and 46%) and SW (dominant arm − 59% and 55%; nondominant arm − 56% and 52%). In the bench press movement the SW presented significant (p<.00) higher maximal force then the TP and BP. No differences were found in the maximal rate of force production. CONCLUSIONS: Based in these force parameters, the SW were the strongest in the upper limb. The TP were the weakest athletes in the arm ER force. The recommended ER:IR ratio to provide muscular balance ranges between 66 and 75% (Ellenbecker & Roetert, 2003). The BP presented the better RE:RI ratio. This is caused by the repetition of fast internal rotation arm movements in SW and TP and represents a potential source for shoulder imbalance and injury. REFERENCES: Ellenbecker, T., & Roetert, E. (2003). J Sc Med Sp, 6: 63–70.