PHYSIOLOGICAL AREA   

Medicina dello Sport 2021 December;74(4):599-613

DOI: 10.23736/S0025-7826.21.03908-9

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Changes in and associations between functional indices of young handball players’ upper extremities when applying neuromuscular training

Eglė LENDRAITIENĖ, Toma PETKUTĖ ✉, Eglė LAURINAVIČIŪTĖ

Department of Rehabilitation, Medical Academy of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular training of the upper extremities has been demonstrated to improve functional indices and to be a trauma prevention measure in certain branches of sport, yet data on the effect of neuromuscular training on the indices of handball players’ functional status are scarce.
METHODS: The study included 16 professional handball players, aged 20-35 years, with >10 years of training, without any upper extremity traumas over the period of >1 year, and without any complaints of pain. They underwent a month-long program of 30-minute-long neuromuscular training exercises 3 times per week. Scapular dyskinesis, upper extremity dynamic stability and muscle strength were assessed prior and after the program.
RESULTS: After neuromuscular training, the manifestations of scapular dyskinesis decreased (P<0.05), the dynamic stability and muscle strength of the upper extremities improved (P<0.05). We found a direct relation between shoulder abduction muscle strength and the results of the Seated Medicine Ball Throw Test in the non-dominant arm, a direct relation between the results of the Y Balance Test and the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test in the dominant arm, and a direct relation between the strength of muscles responsible for shoulder internal rotation and external rotation in the dominant arm after neuromuscular training.
CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that neuromuscular training program may be beneficial for improving scapular dyskinesis, upper extremity dynamic stability, and muscle strength of handball players.

KEY WORDS: Exercise; Dyskinesias; Upper extremity