EVALUATION OF MUSCULAR IMBALANCES OF THE SHOULDER IN OVERHEAD SPORTS

Abstract

The functional impingement syndrome of the shoulder is very often a result of muscular imbalances at the shoulder girdle. Combined with reduced muscular strength a scapular winging of the medial border of the scapula occurs during eccentric arm movement. The purpose of the study was to evaluate a functional shoulder test to quantify the winging (scapula alata) and muscular deficits. Thirty top-ranked male tennis players of the ATP-Tour participated at the Eurocard Open 1998 in Stuttgart. They performed isokinetic strength test of external and internal rotation and an elevation of the arm with different weights. An additional clinical and in some cases sonographic evaluation was performed.