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F. Can1, D. Chan2
1Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, Ankara, Turkey, 2Texas Children's Hospital, Sports Medicine, Houston, United States
Background: Proprioception is defined as the ability of an organism to perceive the position and motion of joints and the perception of force, in space. Many authors agree that proprioception in shoulder joint can be improved using exercises. Although there is very few study which showed effects of exercises on shoulder proprioception, there is no comparative study on other type of exercises commonly used in shoulder rehabilitation which may affect shoulder proprioception.Furthermore, there is not enough study which assess both joint position sense and kinesthesia using objective measurement tool for shoulder joint.
Purpose: The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled study was to compare acute effects of stabilization exercises and plyometric exercises on shoulder proprioception tested one time intervention in healthy subjects.
Methods: 20 males and 25 females, a total of 45 sedentary healthy subjects aged between 19-38 years were participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to the Control Group (CG, n=15) and two exercise groups as Stabilization Exercise Group (SEG, n=15) and Plyometric Exercise Group (PEG, n= 15). Shoulder proprioception was assessed as joint position sense (JPS), and kinesthesia tested as “Threshold to Detection of Passive Movement (TDPM)” using original proprioception testing device (PTD) version 2.0. Dominant shoulder at 70% internal rotation (IR), 90% external rotation and 50% of ROM were measured in the sitting position. After completion of initial testing, each group received a single intervention. Stabilization exercises was consisted of four perturbated exercises with 90o shoulder flexion and abduction using gym-ball. Plyometric exercises included four exercises with thera tubes and plyometric balls. The Control Group had no intervention. The proprioception tests have been performed before and immediately after the exercises, then 30 minutes, 1 hour and 1 day after the exercises.
Results: No variation from baseline was observed at any point of assessment in PEG. Comparing proprioception at multiple assessment points of SEG with baseline revealed significant difference in JPS at 70% of internal rotation. There were no differences between the values of shoulder proprioception at each moment of assessments and baseline values in the CG.
While there was no difference in JPS at initial assessment between the groups, there were differences in TTDPN at various angles. Stabilization exercises or plyometric exercises had no positive effect on shoulder proprioception after the implementation (p>0.005). No significant and consisted difference between the exercise groups was seen at any point.
While there was no difference in JPS at initial assessment between the groups, there were differences in TTDPN at various angles. Stabilization exercises or plyometric exercises had no positive effect on shoulder proprioception after the implementation (p>0.005). No significant and consisted difference between the exercise groups was seen at any point.
Conclusions: Direction of TTDPM test was identified as a new factor that played major role in testing proprioception. The observations showed no effects for stabilization and plyometric exercises. One single session plyometric exercises or stabilization exercises might not be enough to elicit any changes at the organ level or central processing to improve proprioception, thus needed to have further studies with more sessions.
Implications: This study can serve to show the acute effects of different type of exercises on shoulder proprioception. The results are beneficial to have a fundamental stepping on development the most effective or appropriate exercise intervention to improve proprioception in clinical practice.
Funding acknowledgements: No direct funding was received for this study.
Keywords:
Shoulder proprioception
Stabilization exercises
Plyometric exercises
Shoulder proprioception
Stabilization exercises
Plyometric exercises
Topics:
Musculoskeletal
Musculoskeletal: upper limb
Orthopaedics
Musculoskeletal
Musculoskeletal: upper limb
Orthopaedics
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Hacettepe University
Committee: Non-Invasive Clinical Researches Ethics Committee
Ethics number: GO 14/96-19
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
