Overload and neovascularization of shoulder tendons in volleyball players

Abstract

BackgroundIn overhead sports like volleyball, the onset of a rotator cuff tendinopathy due to functional overload is a common observation. An angiofibroblastic etiopathogenesis has been hypothesized, whereby a greater anaerobic metabolism occurs in critical zones of the tendon with a lower degree of vascularization; this would induce collagen and extracellular matrix degradation, that could then trigger a compensatory neovascularization response. We performed a clinical observational study of 80 elite volleyball players, monitoring the perfusion values of the supraspinatus tendons by oximetry.ResultsNo statistically significant differences were found between the oximetry data and age, sex or years of sports activity, nor when comparing the right and left arm or the dominant and non-dominant arm. A statistically significant difference was found for the dominant arm values in relation to the competitive role, higher values being obtained in outside hitters (62.7%) than middle hitters (53.7%) (p = 0.01), opposite hitters (55.5%) (p = 0.02) and libero players (54.4%) (p = 0.008), whereas there were no differences in setters (56.2%) (p > 0.05).ConclusionsThe different tendon vascularization values found in players with different roles in the team may be attributed to a response to the specific biomechanical demands posed by the different overhead throwing roles.

The middle blocker in volleyball: A systematic review

“…The player with the highest perfusion values was the outside hitter (62.7%), followed by the setter (56.2%), although there were no significant differences between them. However, statistical differences (p<.05) were found with opposites (55.5%), liberos (54.4%) and middle blockers 53.7%) (Notarnicola et al, 2012).…”

“…Middle blocker Middle blockers covered less distance (p<.005) than setters, defenders, spikers, and liberos in a match and in a set; There was a tendency to lengthen the distance by the players in the final sets, which is indicative of the extended time of individual rallies. Notarnicola et al (2012) To evaluate the influence of age, gender, dominant arm, role and number of years activity on rotator cuff tendon strain, with the aim of developing strategies to improve peripheral perfusion in volleyball players. 80 volunteer (16 males and 64 females) elite volleyball players in Italian professional teams.…”

Biomechanical analysis of volleyball overhead pass

“…This indicates that in the overhead pass motion a stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) functions in the FCR. Many researches have been done on the SSC during motions that involve high power mainly in the lower limbs (Carr et al, 2015;Harrison, Keane, & Coglan, 2004;Hassani et al, 2013;Ishikawa & Komi, 2004;Levenez et al, 2013;Norman & Komi, 1979;Serrien & Baeyens, 2017;Skurvydas et al, 2002;Suchomel et al, 2016). However, although there are several studies on SSC during low power motions, the studies did not focus on the movement using the upper arms (Fukunaga et al, 2001;Lloyd, Oliver, Hughes, & Williams, 2012;Yaghoubi, Esfehani, Hosseini, Alikhajeh, & Shultz, 2015).…”

“…Although an overhead pass does not require a high degree of power, it is repeated many times in games as well as training, so the pass should be as efficient as possible. Currently, the way to teach the skill of overhead pass is not necessarily evidence-based because the overhead pass motion has not yet been analysed, although other motion sequences in volleyball such as attacking, jumping, and blocking (Eom & Schutz, 1992;Ficklin, Lund, & Schipper, 2014;Hadzic, Sattler, Veselko, Markovic, & Dervisevic, 2014;Notarnicola et al, 2012). If the mechanism of an overhead pass was well described, it could provide players with a theoretical background which would aid in the development of this skilful motion.…”

“…When a muscle is eccentrically contracted before the concentric contraction begins, the muscle can produce greater power than when there is only a concentric contraction (Cavagna, Saibene, & Margaria, 1965;Cavagna, Komarek, & Mazzoleni, 1971). This occurs because the elastic energy stored in the muscle and tendon during the eccentric contraction can be utilised (Bosco et al, 1982;Ishikawa & Komi, 2004;Norman & Komi, 1979;Padulo et al, 2013). Current research on the SSC has largely involved high power movements such as sprinting (Carr, McMahon, & Comfort, 2015), and the jumping (Bosco, Komi, & Ito, 1981;Hassani et al, 2013;Ishikawa & Komi, 2004), and has shown that utilisation of the SSC in the calf and thigh muscles is an effective method for producing considerable power (Baker & Nance, 1999;Bosco et al, 1981).…”