Flexibility of internal and external glenohumeral rotation of junior female tennis players and its correlation with performance ranking.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the internal and external rotation of the dominant and nondominant shoulders of adolescent female tennis players. The correlation between the shoulder rotation range of motion and the player's ranking was also analyzed. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-one female junior tennis players who were 13 to 18 years old participated in this study. A standard goniometer was used to measure the internal and external rotation of both glenohumeral joints. The difference in internal and external rotation was calculated as the glenohumeral rotation deficit. The year-end ranking of each player was obtained from the Chinese Taipei Tennis Association. [Results] The internal rotation of the dominant shoulder was significantly smaller than that of the nondominant shoulder. Moreover, player ranking was significantly and negatively correlated with the internal rotation range of motion of both shoulders. On the other hand, the correlations of the internal and external rotation ranges of motion with the age, height, and weight were not significant. [Conclusion] The flexibility of the glenohumeral internal rotation is smaller in the dominant shoulder than of the nondominant shoulder in these junior female tennis players. Flexibility of the glenohumeral internal rotation may be a factor affecting performance in junior female tennis players.
Graduate Institute of Health Care, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan.
Ching-Cheng
CC
Chiang
Master Program in Applied Sports Science, Department of Sports, National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan.
Chih-Chia
CC
Hsu
Department of Sports, National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan.
Jinn-Yen
JY
Chiang
Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Taiwan.
Weng-Cheng
WC
Chang
Department of Sports, National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan.
Jong-Chang
JC
Tsai
Adolescent; Racket sport; Shoulder tightness