title: Scapular Upward-Rotation Deficits After Acute Fatigue in Tennis Players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fatigue in overhead athletes reduces shoulder muscular contraction and proprioception. These deficits may lead to alterations in scapular upward rotation, which is associated with multiple chronic shoulder conditions prevalent in tennis players.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the effect of a functional fatigue protocol on scapular upward rotation in collegiate male tennis players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty healthy male tennis players with no history of shoulder injury completed this study. Participants were divided into 2 groups, experimental (age = 19.4 ± 1.1 years, height = 180.1 ± 8.9 cm, weight = 72.7 ± 11.6 kg) and control (age = 19.6 ± 1.2 years, height = 181.1 ± 6.6 cm, weight = 81.6 ± 13.5 kg).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in the experimental group performed a tennis-serving protocol until the onset of fatigue. Fatigue was defined as a participant reporting a rating of 15 on the Borg Scale of Perceived Exertion and reaching a heart rate of 70% of maximum. Instead of completing the fatigue protocol, control participants rested for an interval time matched to the experimental group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scapular upward rotation of the dominant arm was measured at rest and at 60°, 90°, and 120° of glenohumeral elevation in the scapular plane. Upward-rotation measurements were taken prefatigue, postfatigue, and at 24, 48, and 72 hours postexercise. Scapular upward-rotation values were calculated as change scores from baseline and analyzed using a 2 × 4 mixed-model analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant group-by-time interaction effects were found in postfatigue change scores. The experimental group displayed scapular upward-rotation deficits at all testing positions postfatigue (rest: -2.1° ± 1.4°, 60°: -2.2° ± 2.2°, 90°: -3.2° ± 2.1°, 120°: -4.0° ± 1.3°). No differences were observed at 24, 48, or 72 hours after the fatigue protocol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fatigue impaired scapular upward rotation in male tennis players, but values returned to baseline within 24 hours. Clinicians should monitor scapular upward rotation in tennis players returning to competition within a day after heavy serving activity.
authors.affiliation: Cabot Public Schools, AR.
authors.forename: R Lyndsey
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics and Movement Science, Human Performance Laboratory, University of Delaware, Newark.
authors.forename: Aaron H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Struminger
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Central Arkansas, Conway.
authors.forename: W Steven
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro.
authors.forename: Barry A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Munkasy
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro.
authors.forename: A Barry
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Joyner
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics and Movement Science, Human Performance Laboratory, University of Delaware, Newark.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Buckley
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest; D012399:Rotation; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013715:Tennis / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: functional fatigue; overhead athletes; scapular dyskinesis; tennis serve