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Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
Published on: May 1, 2018
Isokinetic muscle strength parameters for shoulder movements.
D C Reid1, G Oedekoven, J F Kramer
1Faculty of Medicine, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery The Universtity of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada.
Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
|August 7, 2013
Summary
This study established normal shoulder muscle strength parameters in athletic adults. Findings reveal women are about 50% as strong as men, with no dominant arm differences.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Physiology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Assessing shoulder muscle strength is crucial for athletic performance and injury prevention.
- Establishing normative data is essential for comparing individuals and identifying deficits.
- Previous research has focused on peak torque, but functional measurements like the arc of maximum strength require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normal shoulder muscle strength parameters in a cohort of fit, athletic individuals.
- To compare strength differences between men and women across various shoulder movements.
- To investigate the utility of the arc of maximum strength as a functional measure.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an isokinetic dynamometer to measure shoulder muscle strength in 20 men and 20 women.
- Recorded peak torque, angle of peak torque, and arc of maximum strength for multiple shoulder movements.
- Analyzed data to compare strength between sexes and dominant versus non-dominant arms.
Main Results:
- Women exhibited approximately 50% of the strength of men across all measured movements.
- No significant strength differences were found between dominant and non-dominant arms.
- Shoulder adductors were the strongest muscle group; women had a greater range of motion in internal/external rotation despite lower peak torques.
Conclusions:
- Athletic women demonstrate significantly lower shoulder muscle strength compared to athletic men.
- The arc of maximum strength may offer a more functional assessment of shoulder strength than peak torque alone.
- Normative data established in this study can aid in the evaluation of shoulder function in athletic populations.
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