title: Prevention of shoulder injuries in overhead athletes: a science-based approach.
abstract: The shoulder is at high risk for injury during overhead sports, in particular in throwing or hitting activities, such as baseball, tennis, handball, and volleyball. In order to create a scientific basis for the prevention of recurrent injuries in overhead athletes, four steps need to be undertaken: (1) risk factors for injury and re-injury need to be defined; (2) established risk factors may be used as return-to-play criteria, with cut-off values based on normative databases; (3) these variables need to be measured using reliable, valid assessment tools and procedures; and (4) preventative training programs need to be designed and implemented into the training program of the athlete in order to prevent re-injury. In general, three risk factors have been defined that may form the basis for recommendations for the prevention of recurrent injury and return to play after injury: glenohumeral internal-rotation deficit (GIRD); rotator cuff strength, in particular the strength of the external rotators; and scapular dyskinesis, in particular scapular position and strength.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cools
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Fredrik R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dorien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Borms
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Annelies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maenhout
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology*