Shoulder isokinetic profile of male handball players of the Brazilian National Team

Abstract

BackgroundData obtained on an isokinetic dynamometer are useful to characterize muscle status and have been reported in muscle imbalance studies in different types of sport. However, few studies have assessed elite handball players to establish reference values. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to compare, for the dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) side, the isokinetic profile of shoulder rotator muscle strength between male handball players (H) and asymptomatic non-athletes (NA). MethodIsokinetic concentric and eccentric strength tests for D upper limbs were performed by the H group (n=20) and the NA group (n=12). Internal and external rotator muscle peak torque in concentric action was assessed at 60°/s and 300°/s and in eccentric action at 300°/s. We also calculated conventional balance (the ratio of external rotator peak torque to internal rotator peak torque in concentric action) and functional balance (the ratio of external rotator peak torque in eccentric action to internal rotator peak torque in concentric action). ResultsIn the H group, dominant limbs were stronger in concentric action for external rotation at 60 and 300°/s. The conventional balance ratio for the D side was significantly lower at 60 and 300°/s for H compared to NA. The functional ratio for the D side was significantly lower at 300º/s for H compared to NA. ConclusionsCompared to asymptomatic non-athletes, handball players presented significant muscular imbalance resulting from daily sports practice, a known risk factor for shoulder injuries.

Profiling the Isokinetic Muscle Strength of Athletes Involved in Sports Characterized by Constantly Varied Functional Movements Performed at High Intensity: A Cross‐Sectional Study

“…Our volunteers demonstrated lower strength values of knee flexor and extensor muscles than previous data of elite soccer players . Athletes of both sexes involved with FMHI, however, demonstrated higher shoulder strength values than those demonstrated by women wrestlers and by elite female athletes or male handball players .…”

Isokinetic Knee Muscle Strength Profile in Brazilian Male Soccer, Futsal, and Beach Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…To assess muscular strength profile, isokinetic testing has been used by clinicians and physical therapists. 23,28,29 Several studies have been carried out to establish strength profiles in soccer players. [30][31][32] However, only one study has investigated isokinetic strength in futsal players 33 while none have been conducted in beach soccer players.…”

Determination of upper extremity muscle strength profile of Turkish weightlifting national team athletes

“…Saccol et al measured the shoulder ER and IR PT at 60°/s and 180°/s angular velocities in elite child tennis players and found that this ratio changed between 68% and 96% (23). Considering other studies reported in the literature, the ER/IR ratio was reported as 65%-74% in cricket players (11), 72%-74% in male handball players (15), 78%-85% in professional swimmers (10), 66%-70% in adolescent handball players (16), 72%-78% in women volleyball players (8) 61%-64% in normal healthy male individuals, and 67%-69% in healthy women individuals (7). The present study found that the ER/IR was approximately 47%-67% for the dominant side at 60°/s in weightlifters, approximately 59%-77% for the nondominant side, approximately 37%-57% for the dominant side at 240°/s velocity, and approximately 33%-53% for the nondominant side.…”

“…Therefore, objective assessment of muscle strength in all athletes is crucial to the sportive success of athletes and prevention of injuries. Despite several studies in the literature exploring the upper extremity isokinetic strength profile in various sports fields such as swimming, handball, volleyball, tennis, water polo, cricket, judo, and basketball (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22), no study has examined the upper extremity isokinetic muscle strength characteristic in weightlifters.…”