Does an effective shoulder injury prevention program affect risk factors in handball? A randomized controlled study

Abstract

Background Shoulder problems are common in handball, but injury risk reduction is possible by implementing a prevention program. However, player compliance to the program remains a challenge, with feedback from players that the program is too time consuming. Aim To develop a more efficient program, we aimed to assess the effect of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center shoulder injury prevention program on external rotation (ER) strength and internal rotation (IR) range of motion (ROM), considered to represent key risk factors for injury. Methods Four youth handball teams (three females, one males, 57 players, mean age 17.1 years) were randomized to an intervention or control group. The intervention program was conducted three times per week as a part of handball warm‐up for 18 weeks, supervised by physical therapists. The main outcome variables were the between‐group differences in ER strength and IR ROM change from baseline to postintervention. Isometric ER strength was measured with a handheld dynamometer and IR ROM with a digital goniometer. Results Mean dominant shoulder isometric ER strength increased both in the intervention (10%) and the control group (6%) during the intervention, but there was no significant group by time interaction (group difference: 0.06 N/kg (95% CI: −0.04 to 0.17). IR ROM did not change in either group during the intervention. Conclusion The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center shoulder injury prevention program did not affect the risk factors ER strength and IR ROM. The preventive effect of the program must therefore be due to other factors.

Injury Profile of Male and Female Senior and Youth Handball Players: A Systematic Review

“…Despite the multiple beneficial effects derived from handball practice, such as improvements in cardiovascular, metabolic, muscular and psychosocial health [4][5][6], this team sport presents a high injury risk [7], mainly due to its high-intensity specific demands (i.e., rapid changes of direction, jumps with abrupt landings and repetitive throws, as well as frequent physical contact among players [8,9]). Likewise, low physical fitness, incorrect technique, lack of flexibility, and also inadequate rehabilitation treatment of injuries have been reported as risk factors related to the occurrence of injuries [10,11]. Additionally, the high training volumes and intensities that youth players undertake to achieve sporting excellence seem to contribute to the increase of the injury incidence [10].…”

The effect of shoulder injury prevention program on glenohumeral range of motion and upper extremity performance in adolescent throwers: A pilot study

“…There are several studies in the literature which investigate the effects of training programs on the range of motion in different sports disciplines. Fredriksen and Myklebust investigated the effect of the OSTRC Shoulder Injury Prevention Program on handball players' range of motion and stated that it had no effect on IR, ER and the total range of motion [8]. Oranchuk et al also investigated the effect of an eight-week sports-specific training program with resistance bands and general training program on the glenohumeral range of motion in softball players, and at the end of the study, they found that both training programs did not cause a statistically significant difference on the ER and IR range of motion [18].…”

“…The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) shoulder injury prevention program is an exercise program developed to increase IR range of motion, external rotator muscle strength and scapular muscle strength and to improve kinetic chain involvement and thoracic mobility [7,8]. In a randomized controlled trial of 660 elite handball players, the OSTRC Shoulder Injury Prevention program was applied three times a week as a part of the handball warmup.…”

Effectiveness Of Overuse Injury Prevention Programs On Upper Extremity Performance In Overhead Youth Athletes: A Systematic Review

“…In contrast, the handheld dynamometer (HHD) used for isometric strength measurements is low-cost, portable, and suitable for eld use. Additionally, the HHD has also demonstrated high intra-and inter-rater reliability for isometric shoulder strength measurements, making it a suitable alternative to an isokinetic device [51,52]. Furthermore, using HHD for strength measurements may also lead to a greater protocol consistency across studies thus enabling researchers to draw valid conclusions while comparing the studies.…”