Abstract
This study was conducted to analyze whether internal (IR) and external (ER) rotator
shoulder muscles weakness and/or imbalance collected through a preseason assessment
could be predictors of subsequent shoulder injury during a season in handball players.
In preseason, 16 female elite handball players (HPG) and 14 healthy female nonathletes
(CG) underwent isokinetic IR and ER strength test with use of a Con-Trex® dynamometer in a seated position with 45° shoulder abduction in scapular plane, at
60, 120 and 240°/s in concentric and at 60°/s in eccentric, for both sides. An imbalanced
muscular strength profile was determined using statistically selected cut-offs from
CG values. For HPG, all newly incurred shoulder injuries were reported during the
season. There were significant differences between HPG and CG only for dominant eccentric
IR strength, ER/IR ratio at 240°/s and for IRecc/ERcon ratio. In HPG, IR and ER strength
was higher, and ER/IR ratios lower for dominant than for nondominant side. The relative
risk was 2.57 (95%CI: 1.60–3.54; P<0.05) if handball players had an imbalanced muscular strength profile. In youth female
handball players IR and ER muscle strength increases on the dominant side without
ER/IR imbalances; and higher injury risk was associated with imbalanced muscular strength
profile.
Key words
sports injury prevention - rotator cuff strength - isokinetic - overhead sports -
strength imbalance
