Rethinking Warm-Up in Overhead Exercise: Acute Shoulder Responses to a Strength- and Mobility-Oriented Protocol in...

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Overhead sports place significant stress on the shoulder complex.
• Effective warm-ups are crucial for acute readiness in athletes.
• Current warm-up protocols may not be sport-specific enough for overhead athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the immediate effects of a shoulder-specific warm-up versus a habitual routine.
• To evaluate the impact on shoulder range of motion, strength, and stability in youth overhead athletes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled pilot trial involving 24 youth competitive overhead athletes (14-20 years).
• Athletes were assigned to either a shoulder-specific warm-up (EG) or a habitual warm-up group (SWG).
• Outcome measures included shoulder flexion range of motion (ROM), handgrip strength, Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability (CKCUES), and Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE).

Main Results:

• A significant increase in right shoulder flexion ROM was observed in the experimental group (EG) post-warm-up (p = 0.008).
• No significant changes were found for left shoulder ROM, handgrip strength, or CKCUES performance in either group.
• Post-warm-up RPE was significantly higher in the EG compared to the SWG (p = 0.041).

Conclusions:

• A shoulder-specific warm-up may offer immediate benefits for shoulder range of motion in youth overhead athletes.
• These findings suggest potential practical value for tailored warm-up strategies.
• Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm broader functional relevance and long-term effects.