Background:Monitoring the volume of activity (i.e. pitch counts) and tracking upper extremity (UE) performance changes is common in overhead athletes; however, a lack of evidence exists for volleyball players.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in shoulder mobility, strength, and pain, along with UE swing count volume in Division I collegiate female volleyball athletes over a competitive season. Study Design: Observational, longitudinal studyMethods: Swing count data was collected during two separate days of practice during weeks 1, 7, and 14 of the competitive season. Perceived swing counts were collected after each practice from athletes and two coaches. Actual swing counts were tallied by retrospective viewing of video footage. Dominant shoulder internal (IR) and external rotation (ER) range of motion (ROM) and isometric strength, along with UE pain, were assessed on five occasions: baseline, in-season (weeks 1, 7, 14) and post-season (week 22). Results:Five Division I female volleyball athletes participated. Perceived UE swing counts among coaching staff were significantly correlated with actual swing count (r = 0.93 -0.98, p<.05), while athlete perceived swing count was moderately correlated and was not statistically significant (r = 0.64, p =.25). Shoulder IR ROM decreased from baseline to week 14 (-5.6 ± 10.6, 95% CI: -18.76, 7.6; p = .03), with a large effect size (d = 1.0). Large effect sizes were observed for increases in UE pain, shoulder ER ROM, and IR strength (d = 0.8 -2.3). An increase in shoulder IR strength occurred from baseline to week 14 (p = .001), but decreased during the eight weeks of post-season relative rest (p =.02).Conclusions: UE swing count estimates by coaching staff demonstrated higher correlation with actual swing counts obtained through video recording, as compared to volleyball athlete self-report. This cohort experienced increased shoulder IR strength and ER ROM over a competitive season. Shoulder IR ROM decreased during the first 14 weeks with a large effect size. Monitoring UE performance changes and swing count volume may have implications for injury prevention and program development for volleyball athletes. Level of Evidence: Level 2BFinancial Disclosures: Brandon Ness is an instructor for a continuing education company and receives honorariums for teaching courses related to sports physical therapy, is in the process of commercializing a rehabilitation measurement device with patent pending, and is the owner of a company which distributes rehabilitation resources.Kory Zimney is senior faculty with a post-professional educational company and receives honorariums for teaching courses related to pain neuroscience education and has published books related to pain neuroscience education for which he receives royalties.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.