Influence of sports discipline on shoulder rotator cuff balance
Codine, P.; Bernard, P.L.; Pocholle, M.; Benaim, C.; Brun, V.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 29(11): 1400-1405
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0195-9131 PMID: 9372473 Document Number: 482379
Isokinetic shoulder rotational strength was evaluated in four groups of subjects as follows: 12 nonathletes, 12 runners, 15 tennis players, and 12 baseball players for a total of 51 subjects. The tests were performed in the seated 45degree abducted test position in the scapular plane at 60, 180, and 300degreecntdots-1 for both shoulders. Peak torque and mean power values were gathered, and from these values the internal/external rotation ratios were calculated. Intergroup comparison showed a progression of the ratio related to the sports discipline. The nonathletes and runners had ratios close to those reported for nonathletes (1.3 to 1.5). The tennis players had ratios close to 1.5, whereas the baseball players had ratios from 1.6 to 2.2. The comparison between dominant and nondominant side showed no significant differences in the tennis players and higher values for the dominant side in the nonathletes and runners under certain conditions (180degreecntdots-1 for the nonathletes and 300degreecntdots-1 for the runners). Regarding the baseball players, the ratio was systematically higher for the dominant side. These results raise questions about the influence of sports discipline on the internal/external rotator muscle ratio and indicate the need to establish normative values based on the characteristics of the population under study.