Upper Limb Strength and Performance Deficits after Glenohumeral-Joint-Stabilisation Surgery in Contact and Collision Athletes.

Abstract

The primary aim was to identify and quantify differences in interlimb asymmetry magnitudes across a battery of upper extremity strength and performance tests at four and six months after glenohumeral-joint-stabilisation surgery shoulder stabilisation in contact and collision athletes compared to an un-injured group. A secondary aim was to investigate if identified asymmetry magnitudes changed from four months to six months post glenohumeral-joint-stabilisation. The third aim was to explore associations within the different performance and strength variables. Fifty-six male contact and collision sport athletes who had had undergone unilateral glenohumeral-joint-stabilisation were tested at 4 and 6 months post-surgery. An un-injured control group (n = 39 for upper extremity performance tests, n = 47 for isokinetic dynamometry) were tested on a single occasion. Three upper extremity force platform-based performance tests and angle-specific concentric internal and external isokinetic shoulder rotational strength were assessed, and inter-limb asymmetries were compared between the two groups. At four months post-surgery, the glenohumeral-joint-stabilisation group demonstrated significantly higher absolute interlimb asymmetry values than the un-injured group for almost all the performance test variables. In the ballistic upper-body performance tests, the glenohumeral-joint-stabilisation group achieved only half the body elevation reached by the un-injured (counter-movement push-up jump height (η2 = 0.50) and press-jump jump height (η2 = 0.39)). At 6 months post-surgery absolute inter-limb asymmetries reduced for the performance tests variables but some asymmetry persisted. The glenohumeral-joint-stabilisation group had significantly greater absolute inter-limb asymmetries for five out of the eight isokinetic variables. Contact and collision athletes who may be cleared to return to sport at four to six months after glenohumeral-joint-stabilisation surgery shoulder stabilisation continue to demonstrate upper limb strength and performance deficits when compared to their un-injured limb and to their un-injured counterparts.