Shoulder 3D range of motion and humerus rotation in two volleyball spike techniques: injury prevention and performance

Repetitive stresses and movements on the shoulder in the volleyball spike expose this joint to overuse injuries, bringing athletes to a career threatening injury. Assuming that specific spike techniques play an important role in injury risk, we compared the kinematic of the traditional (TT) and the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sports biomechanics 2015-04, Vol.14 (2), p.216-231
Main Authors: Seminati, Elena, Marzari, Alessandra, Vacondio, Oreste, Minetti, Alberto E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3D kinematics
Athletic Injuries - diagnosis
Athletic Injuries - physiopathology
Athletic Injuries - prevention & control
Athletic Performance
biomechanics
Female
Healthy Volunteers
Human performance
Humans
Humerus - physiology
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Kinematics
Male
Movement
Prevention
Range of Motion, Articular - physiology
Reproducibility of Results
Rotation
Shoulder
Shoulder Joint - physiology
Shoulder overuse injuries
spike styles
Sports injuries
Volleyball
Volleyball - physiology
Young Adult
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Summary:Repetitive stresses and movements on the shoulder in the volleyball spike expose this joint to overuse injuries, bringing athletes to a career threatening injury. Assuming that specific spike techniques play an important role in injury risk, we compared the kinematic of the traditional (TT) and the alternative (AT) techniques in 21 elite athletes, evaluating their safety with respect to performance. Glenohumeral joint was set as the centre of an imaginary sphere, intersected by the distal end of the humerus at different angles. Shoulder range of motion and angular velocities were calculated and compared to the joint limits. Ball speed and jump height were also assessed. Results indicated the trajectory of the humerus to be different for the TT, with maximal flexion of the shoulder reduced by 10 degrees, and horizontal abduction 15 degrees higher. No difference was found for external rotation angles, while axial rotation velocities were significantly higher in AT, with a 5% higher ball speed. Results suggest AT as a potential preventive solution to shoulder chronic pathologies, reducing shoulder flexion during spiking. The proposed method allows visualisation of risks associated with different overhead manoeuvres, by depicting humerus angles and velocities with respect to joint limits in the same 3D space.
ISSN:1476-3141
1752-6116
DOI:10.1080/14763141.2015.1052747