No Added Benefit of 8 Weeks of Shoulder External Rotation Strength Training for Youth Handball Players Over Usual Handball Training Alone: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective To assess the effectiveness of a short (5–10 minutes) shoulder external rotation (ER) strength program, using elastic bands, in adolescent handball players. Design Randomized controlled trial. Methods The sample included 6 adolescent handball teams (3 female, 3 male) with a total of 92 players and a mean age of 16.6 years. Players were randomized within teams to an intervention group, which completed a shoulder ER strengthening program of 2 exercises performed 3 times per week after handball training for 8 weeks, or a control group of no treatment. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in shoulder ER strength change, measured as isometric strength using a handheld dynamometer from preintervention to postintervention (8 weeks). Secondary outcomes were between-group differences in internal rotation (IR) strength and the ER/IR strength ratio from preintervention to postintervention. Results The estimated between-group difference in dominant-shoulder ER strength was 0.06 N/kg (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.01, 0.14) in favor of the intervention group. The estimated between-group differences in the ER/IR ratio and IR strength were 0.03 (95% CI: −0.02, 0.08) and 0.02 (95% CI: −0.08, 0.13), respectively. Conclusion The ER strength program improved neither the ER strength nor the ER:IR ratio. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(4):174–187. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.9957

The Epidemiology of Youth Sport-Related Shoulder Injuries: A Systematic Review

“…Two interventions in handball were also studied but did not prove effective in their goal to reduce risk factors for a shoulder injury. The interventions trialed were an 8-week external rotation-focused strength training program, and the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center shoulder injury prevention program [ 105 , 106 ].…”

“…Further study of training load across various sporting activities and contexts may be a promising avenue for researchers to enhance their understanding of injury risk factors and should be considered for future studies. ree studies sought to evaluate targeted shoulder injury prevention programs among youth [80,105,106]. ese were high-quality studies (RCT), where the prevention modality sought to reduce the number of injuries observed in baseball or handball.…”

“…Three studies sought to evaluate targeted shoulder injury prevention programs among youth [ 80 , 105 , 106 ]. These were high-quality studies (RCT), where the prevention modality sought to reduce the number of shoulder injuries observed in baseball or handball.…”

“…These were high-quality studies (RCT), where the prevention modality sought to reduce the number of shoulder injuries observed in baseball or handball. Further study is still needed, however, as one study evaluated successful injury prevention strategies [ 80 , 104 ], but two other studies found their interventions had no preventative effect on injury risk factors [ 105 , 106 ]. Sakata et al found their intervention was successful in reducing injuries in a noncontact throwing sport, meaning that such an intervention may or may not be appropriate in other sporting environments (namely, contact/collision sports like ice hockey, handball, rugby, or football).…”

Exploration of the Shoulder Internal Rotation’s Influence on Throwing Velocity in Handball Players: A Pilot Study

“…Neuromuscular coordination has been pointed out as an important factor to consider [ 46 , 51 ]. Other variables, such as experience level and throwing automation or power have also been taken into account to explain these differences [ 52 ]. In this regard, it has been found that novice players do not reach their angular velocity peak of internal rotation until releasing the ball [ 53 ].…”