Konstantinos Gkagkanas¹, Dimitris Hatzimanouil¹, Trifon Totlis², Georgia Stavropoulou¹

¹Laboratory for the Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, Department of Physical Education & Sport Science, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
²Aristotle University School of Medicine

The Effect of an Exercise Program on the Biomechanics of the Shoulder Girdle in Overhead Shooting in High-level Handball Players

Monten. J. Sports Sci. Med. 2023, 12(2), 17-24 | DOI: 10.26773/mjssm.230903

Abstract

andball athletes are subjected to high loads, especially during the process of throwing or shooting overhead. These athletes often complain of pain and report unexplained loss of throwing velocity and throwing control. Shoulder dyskinesia and overuse syndrome have been identified as risk factors among elite handball athletes. Understanding the dynamics and kinematics of the throwing phase is vital for the exercise professional. This study evaluates the effect of an interventional exercise program on shoulder girdle biomechanics and overhead shooting. The sample consisted of 20 high level handball athletes from Greece. The athletes were divided into two groups: 10 in the study group, who were given the exercise program, and 10 in the control group, who only engaged in in-team handball training. Before and after the program, the following measurements were performed: a) angular measurements of abduction, adduction, flexion and extension of the shoulder; b) isokinetic evaluation of abduction flexion and adduction extension of the shoulder joint, at three angular velocities (60°/sec, 180°/sec and 300°/sec). Inferential statistics showed that there was a statistically significant difference in angular measurements with a reduction in range of motion for 10 of the study group. In the isokinetic assessment there was a statistically significant difference, in the 180°/sec velocities in flexion and extension, and in the deficit of flexion of both shoulders. In conclusion, the interventional exercise program had, to some extent, a beneficial effect on muscle strengthening of the shoulder girdle. The results of this study may suggest training guidelines, provide important information to exercise professionals, and provide feedback to handball athletes.

Keywords

handball, goniometry, isokinetic dynamometry, shoulder girdle, biomechanics, scapular dyskinesia

View full article
(PDF – 499KB)

References

Abassi (2019), Phases of throwing https://www.orthobullets.com/shoulder-and-elbow/3039/phases-of-throwing

Cook, E. E., Gray, V. L., Savinar-Nogue, E., & Medeiros, J. (1987). Shoulder antagonistic strength ratios: a comparison between college-level baseball pitchers and nonpitchers. Journal of

Orthopaedic& Sports Physical Therapy, 8(9), 451-461.

Dashottar, A., Costantini, O., &Borstad, J. (2014). A comparison of range of motion change across four posterior shoulder tightness measurements after external rotator fatigue. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 9(4), 498.

Giroto, N., Hespanhol Junior, L. C., Gomes, M. R. C., & Lopes, A. D. (2017). Incidence and risk factors of injuries in Brazilian elite handball players: a prospective cohort study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine &Science in Sports, 27(2), 195-202.

Ekstrom, R. A., Donatelli, R. A., & Soderberg, G. L. (2003). Surface electromyographic analysis of exercises for the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles. Journal of Orthopaedic& Sports Physical Therapy, 33(5), 247-258.

Jurgel, J., Rannama, L., Gapeyeva, H., Ereline, J., Kolts, I., &Paasuke, M. (2005). Shoulder function in patients with frozen shoulder before and after 4-week rehabilitation. Medicina (Kaunas), 41(1), 30-8.

Kapandji, I. A. (2001). Λειτουργική Ανατομική των Αρθρώσεων, Τόμος Α: Άνω Άκρο. ΕκδόσειςΠασχαλίδης, 396-112.

Landreau, P., Zumstein, M. A., Lubiatowski, P., & Laver, L. (2018). Shoulder injuries in handball. In Handball Sports Medicine (pp. 177-195). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.

Lauersen, J. B., Bertelsen, D. M., & Andersen, L. B. (2014). The effectiveness of exercise interventions to prevent sports injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(11), 871-877.

Lawrence, R. L., Braman, J. P., Staker, J. L., LaPrade, R. F., &Ludewig, P. M. (2014). Comparison of 3-dimensional shoulder complex kinematics in individuals with and without shoulder pain, part 2: glenohumeral joint. Journal of Orthopaedic&Sports Physical Therapy, 44(9), 646-655.

Namdari, S., Yagnik, G., Ebaugh, D. D., Nagda, S., Ramsey, M. L., Williams Jr, G. R., & Mehta, S. (2012). Defining functional shoulder range of motion for activities of daily living. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 21(9), 1177-1183.

Seil R, Rupp S, Tempelhof S, Kohn D. Sports injuries in team handball. A one-year prospective study of sixteen men’s senior teams of a superior nonprofessional level. Am J Sports Med. 1998;26:681–7.

Sheean, A. J., Kibler, W. B., Conway, J., & Bradley, J. P. (2020). Posterior labral injury and glenohumeral instability in overhead athletes: Current concepts for diagnosis and management. JAAOS-Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 28(15), 628-637.

Smith, J., Dietrich, C. T., Kotajarvi, B. R., & Kaufman, K. R. (2006). The effect of scapular protraction on isometric shoulder rotation strength in normal subjects. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 15(3), 339-343.

Werner, S. L., &Plancher, K. D. (1998). Biomechanics of wrist injuries in sports. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 17(3), 407-420.