[Isokinetic dynamometer measurement of shoulder rotational strength in healthy elite athletes (swimming, volley-ball, tennis): comparison between dominant and nondominant shoulder].
OBJECTIVE
To compare lateral rotator (LR) and medial rotator (MR) muscle strength of both shoulders in a sport involving asymmetrical movements (tennis), symmetrical movements (swimming), and symmetrical and asymmetrical movements (volley-ball).


METHODS
Retrospective study of 42 healthy elite athletes (18 women: 14 tennis players, 19 swimmers and 9 volleyball players. We evaluated the strength of LR and MR of both shoulders by Cybex Norm isokinetic dynamometer, in the concentric mode, in the modified Davies position, at 2 different speeds (60 degrees and 180 degrees s(-1)) and analysed peak torque of LR and MR and LR/MR ratios.


RESULTS
TENNIS: The MR peak torque of the dominant shoulder was significantly higher than that of the non-dominant shoulder. The LR/MR ratio of the dominant shoulder was significantly lower than the non dominant shoulder in women. SWIMMING: The LR strength and LR/MR ratio of the dominant shoulder was higher than the non dominant side in men at 60 degrees/second. Both shoulders showed comparable strength in women. VOLLEYBALL: Shoulder muscular strength was symmetrical.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher strength of MR muscles in the dominant shoulder of tennis players (asymmetrical movements) has been reported in the literature. Athletes show asymmetrical shoulder strength in swimming, a symmetrical sport and similar LR and MR strength in both shoulders in volleyball, a sport with asymmetrical movements. To our knowledge, these results have never been reported before.
Gozlan
G
G
Service de médecine du sport, Fédération de médecine physique et de réadaptation, faculté de médecine, université de la Méditerranée, Assistance publique-hôpitaux de Marseille, hôpital Salvator, 249, boulevard de Sainte-Marguerite, 13009 Marseille, France.
Bensoussan
L
L
Coudreuse
J-M
JM
Fondarai
J
J
Gremeaux
V
V
Viton
J-M
JM
Delarque
A
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012399:Rotation; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*