Effectiveness of a Posterior Shoulder Stretching Program on University-Level Overhead Athletes: Randomized Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Overhead athletes often experience reduced internal rotation (IR) and horizontal adduction (HAd) range of motion (ROM).
• This mobility deficit can predispose athletes to shoulder pathology.
• Identifying effective interventions is crucial for injury prevention and performance enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a posterior shoulder stretch in improving IR and HAd ROM in overhead athletes with pre-existing mobility limitations.
• To assess the impact of the stretch on shoulder function and pain.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 37 university-level overhead athletes.
• Participants with IR ROM deficits (≥15°) were assigned to either an 8-week daily posterior shoulder stretch (sleeper stretch) group or a control group.
• Range of motion (ROM), shoulder pain, and function were measured at baseline and 8 weeks.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed significant improvements in both IR and HAd ROM compared to the control group at 8 weeks (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively).
• Significant gains in IR ROM were observed as early as 4 weeks in the intervention group.
• Improved shoulder function was also reported in the intervention group (P = 0.002).

Conclusions:

• A daily posterior shoulder stretch is effective in increasing IR and HAd ROM in overhead athletes with reduced mobility.
• This stretching protocol may be a valuable component in managing posterior shoulder tightness and potentially reducing shoulder injury incidence.