title: Profiling the isokinetic shoulder rotator muscle strength in 13- to 36-year-old male and female handball players.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the external (ER) and internal rotator (IR) muscles' isokinetic peak torque and conventional and functional strength ratios in handball players and controls of different ages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional and descriptive analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exercise Physiology Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 228 participants (108 athletes and 120 controls) were divided into five groups according to age, ranging from 13 to 36 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isokinetic tests were performed concentrically at 60 and 300 deg s(-1) and eccentrically at 300 deg s(-1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differences between the athletes and controls regarding the peak torque of the ER and IR muscles were significant in males older than 18 years. The peak torque of the IR and ER muscles increased significantly across age in male athletes, but not in female athletes, except in the case of ER peak torque, which differed significantly between 13 and 16 years old. The female athletes presented higher conventional ratios (0.81 ± 0.07) than males (0.66 ± 0.08). Values represent means and standard deviations. Athletes and controls showed mean functional strength ratios below 1.0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there were no muscular ratio differences between the athletes and the controls, their ratio values were below the literature-recommended reference values to prevent shoulder injuries.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Botucatu, 862, 5° andar, Vila Clementino, 04023-062, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: marilia.andrade@unifesp.br.
authors.forename: Marilia Dos Santos
authors.initials: Mdos S
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Claudio Andre Barbosa
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Lira
authors.forename: Rodrigo Luiz
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Vancini
authors.forename: Alexandre Aparecido
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Ana Amélia
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Benedito-Silva
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000502:physiology*; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age; Handball; Isokinetic dynamometer; Strength imbalance