Suzuki Y1,2, Urabe Y1, Kotoshiba S1, Sasadai J1, Maeda N1, Shirakawa T2
1Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Department of Sports Rehabilitation, Hiroshima, Japan, 2Matterhorn Rehabilitation Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
Background: Shoulder and lower back pain are most common injuries in swimmers. These injuries may be attributed to range of motion, shoulder or core muscular strength and competition revel. For injuries prevention, dry-land training program for upper quarter has been executed. Although a helpful test for assessment the effects of dry-land training program is needed, insufficient data exist to measure upper quarter function of swimmers. The Upper Quarter Y Balance Test (YBTUQ) was developed for assessment of mobility, stability and strength of upper quarter (Cook et al, 2010), and this can be measure upper quarter function required for swimmers. The differences of the YBTUQ scores between competition level is unclear, and what the physical function related to the scores is unknown.
Purpose: First, to compare the YBTUQ scores between competition level in collegiate swimmers. Secondly, to determine the physical function related to the YBTUQ scores.
Methods: A total of 25 male collegiate swimmers (50 shoulders) participated in this study. 12 swimmers (24 shoulders) who broke through the standard record of the National University Championships were classified as higher level group (HG) and others (13 swimmers; 26 shoulders) were classified as lower level group (LG). YBTUQ was performed with maximal effort reaches to three directions (medial, superolateral and inferolateral) while maintaining a push-up position. The average of three trials of each directions normalized by the upper limb length was used for analysis. As physical functions, we measured isometric muscular strength; middle trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior. In addition, active trunk rotation angle and shoulder flexibility were also measured.
Results: In HG, the YBTUQ scores were 102.6±8.2% in medial direction, 81.3±7.0% in superolateral direction and 93.3±17.8% in inferolateral direction. In LG, the scores were 104.4±7.4% in medial direction, 72.2±9.0% in superolateral direction and 94.3±13.0% in inferolateral direction. Only in superolateral direction there was significant difference between HG and LG (p 0.05). Shoulder Flexibility in HG was higher than in LG (p 0.05). There were no significant differences in muscular strength and trunk rotation angle between the two groups. In HG, there were significantly correlation between the score in superolateral direction and shoulder flexibility (r=-0.44), muscular strength of serratus anterior (r=0.42) and trunk rotation angle (r=0.48). In contrast, there was only significantly correlation between the score in superolateral direction and shoulder flexibility in LG (r=-0.59).
Conclusion(s): This study showed that the components related to the YBTUQ scores differed from competition level, despite of the difference in muscular strength and trunk flexibility. This is to say, there is the difference of cooperativeness or motor control of upper quarter between competition level. For injuries prevention, stretching of shoulder and upper quarter coordination training may be effective. In the future, we will investigate the changes in the YBTUQ scores, as well as improvement of physical function by dry-land training.
Implications: This is a research that can be applied to the planning of dry-land training and the assessment of effect of training, and can be lead to injuries prevention in swimmers
Keywords: Swimmming, Upper Quarter Y Balance Test, Injury prevention
Funding acknowledgements: We have no funding acknowledgement in this study
Purpose: First, to compare the YBTUQ scores between competition level in collegiate swimmers. Secondly, to determine the physical function related to the YBTUQ scores.
Methods: A total of 25 male collegiate swimmers (50 shoulders) participated in this study. 12 swimmers (24 shoulders) who broke through the standard record of the National University Championships were classified as higher level group (HG) and others (13 swimmers; 26 shoulders) were classified as lower level group (LG). YBTUQ was performed with maximal effort reaches to three directions (medial, superolateral and inferolateral) while maintaining a push-up position. The average of three trials of each directions normalized by the upper limb length was used for analysis. As physical functions, we measured isometric muscular strength; middle trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior. In addition, active trunk rotation angle and shoulder flexibility were also measured.
Results: In HG, the YBTUQ scores were 102.6±8.2% in medial direction, 81.3±7.0% in superolateral direction and 93.3±17.8% in inferolateral direction. In LG, the scores were 104.4±7.4% in medial direction, 72.2±9.0% in superolateral direction and 94.3±13.0% in inferolateral direction. Only in superolateral direction there was significant difference between HG and LG (p 0.05). Shoulder Flexibility in HG was higher than in LG (p 0.05). There were no significant differences in muscular strength and trunk rotation angle between the two groups. In HG, there were significantly correlation between the score in superolateral direction and shoulder flexibility (r=-0.44), muscular strength of serratus anterior (r=0.42) and trunk rotation angle (r=0.48). In contrast, there was only significantly correlation between the score in superolateral direction and shoulder flexibility in LG (r=-0.59).
Conclusion(s): This study showed that the components related to the YBTUQ scores differed from competition level, despite of the difference in muscular strength and trunk flexibility. This is to say, there is the difference of cooperativeness or motor control of upper quarter between competition level. For injuries prevention, stretching of shoulder and upper quarter coordination training may be effective. In the future, we will investigate the changes in the YBTUQ scores, as well as improvement of physical function by dry-land training.
Implications: This is a research that can be applied to the planning of dry-land training and the assessment of effect of training, and can be lead to injuries prevention in swimmers
Keywords: Swimmming, Upper Quarter Y Balance Test, Injury prevention
Funding acknowledgements: We have no funding acknowledgement in this study
Topic: Sport & sports injuries; Musculoskeletal: upper limb
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Matterhorn Rehabilitation Hospital
Ethics committee: Ethics Committee
Ethics number: MRH18007
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
