Sonographic evaluation of the acromiohumeral distance in elite and recreational female overhead athletes.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the acromiohumeral distance (AHD) and the change of this distance during abduction between the dominant and nondominant shoulders of female overhead athletes and to compare AHD between elite and recreational female athletes.


METHODS
: Case-control study.


METHODS
Laboratory, institutional.


METHODS
"Side" (dominant and nondominant), "group" (elite and recreational athletes), and "degree of abduction" (0, 45, and 60 degrees).


METHODS
Sixty-two female overhead athletes participated in this study: 29 elite handball players and 33 recreational overhead athletes of different sports disciplines (volleyball, water polo, squash, and badminton).


METHODS
Acromiohumeral distance was measured at 3 positions of abduction using ultrasound: at 0, 45, and 60 degrees of abduction.


RESULTS
Acromiohumeral distance measurements showed good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients between 0.88 and 0.92). In all overhead athletes, the AHD was significantly larger on the dominant side compared with the nondominant side, at all positions of abduction (mean difference = 0.94 ± 0.18 mm). Significant reduction of the AHD during abduction occurred relative to the initial size at 0 degree of abduction, at both sides. When comparing elite and recreational athletes, the AHD was significantly larger in elite athletes (mean difference = 0.92 ± 0.47 mm). Moreover, significantly less reduction occurred during the first degrees of abduction (0-45 degrees) in elite athletes (9.37% ± 2.17% reduction) compared with the recreational athletes (17.68% ± 2.03% reduction).


CONCLUSIONS
The AHD is larger on the dominant side compared with the nondominant side and in elite female athletes compared with recreational female athletes. Moreover, less reduction of the AHD occurs in the elite athlete group during the first 45 degrees of abduction.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. annelies.maenhout@ugent.be
Annelies
A
Maenhout
Robert
R
van Cingel
Kristof
K
De Mey
Maarten
M
Van Herzeele
Famke
F
Dhooge
Ann
A
Cools
D000174:Acromion / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D001484:Baseball; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058430:Humeral Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011998:Recreation; D013177:Sports; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult