Shoulder-Rotator Strength, Range of Motion, and Acromiohumeral Distance in Asymptomatic Adolescent Volleyball Attackers.
BACKGROUND
Sport-specific adaptations at the glenohumeral joint could occur in adolescent athletes because they start participating in high-performance sports in early childhood.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate shoulder-rotator strength, internal-rotation (IR) and external-rotation (ER) range of motion (ROM), and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) in asymptomatic adolescent volleyball attackers to determine if they have risk factors for injury.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
University laboratory.


METHODS
Thirty-nine adolescent high school-aged volleyball attackers (22 boys, 17 girls; age = 16.0 ± 1.4 years, height = 179.2 ± 9.0 cm, mass = 67.1 ± 10.9 kg, body mass index = 20.7 ± 2.6 kg/m2).


METHODS
Shoulder IR and ER ROM, total-rotation ROM, glenohumeral IR deficit, AHD, and concentric and eccentric strength of the shoulder internal and external rotators were tested bilaterally.


RESULTS
External-rotation ROM was greater (t38= 4.92, P < .001), but IR ROM (t38= -8.61, P < .001) and total ROM (t38= -3.55, P = .01) were less in the dominant shoulder, and 15 athletes had a glenohumeral IR deficit (IR ROM loss > 18°). We observed greater concentric internal-rotator (t38= 2.89, P = .006) and eccentric external-rotator (t38= 2.65, P = .01) strength in the dominant than in the nondominant shoulder. The AHD was less in the dominant shoulder (t38= -3.60, P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescent volleyball attackers demonstrated decreased IR ROM, total ROM, and AHD and increased ER ROM in their dominant shoulder. Therefore, routine screening of adolescent athletes and designing training programs for hazardous adaptive changes could be important in preventing shoulder injuries.
Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Gulcan
G
Harput
Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Hande
H
Guney
Department of Radiology, Ankara Numune Hospital, Turkey.
Ugur
U
Toprak
Department of Radiology, Ankara Numune Hospital, Turkey.
Tunca
T
Kaya
Department of Physical Education and Sports Teaching, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
Fatma Filiz
FF
Colakoglu
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Private Güven Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Gul
G
Baltaci
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012399:Rotation; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054798:Volleyball / Q000293:injuries*
glenohumeral joint; muscle strength; sports; ultrasonography