Throwing performance in water polo is related to in-water shoulder proprioception

Abstract

Throwing performance in water polo is related to in-water shoulder proprioception Water polo players require a high level of upper-extremity strength, flexibility and coordination to achieve a peak level of throwing performance. Increased levels of shoulder proprioceptive acuity, strength and range of motion (ROM) have been previously associated with higher sporting performance. A coachrating scale, used to quantify an athlete's kicking proficiency in soccer; was adapted in the current study to measure each coach's subjective expert opinion regarding athletes' throwing mechanics, velocity, and accuracy. To examine this hypothesis shoulder proprioception acuity of 18 water polo players was measured both in-water and on-land using an AMEDA apparatus and correlated with coach-rated throwing performance and clinical measures of shoulder strength and ROM. There was a moderate positive correlation between the in-water and the on-land proprioception acuity (r = 0.47, p < 0.05). The in-water score showing a strong positive correlation with coach rated throwing mechanics (r = 0.68, p < 0.05) and velocity (r = 0.75, p = 0.02), suggesting that superior proprioception acuity contributed to fast, mechanically-efficient throwing. These findings support the notion that inwater proprioceptive acuity is an important determinant of the throwing performance achieved by water polo athletes and its measurement may be a valuable adjunct to current athlete screening.

The Effectiveness of Shoulder Mobility and Strength Programs in Competitive Water-Polo Players

“…Despite performance indicators not being evaluated in this study, some studies have found improvements in ER with the increase in the range during the loading phase, which leads to better performance due to a larger ROM available. Though throwing speed was not evaluated in this study, this situation could translate into a greater distance in the acceleration phase and therefore an evident increase in the speed of the throwing action [ 10 , 16 ]. The lack of IR improvement in the intervention groups (both in WI group and W group ) might be due to the fact that this mobility is associated with reactive scarring or chronic contracture of the periscapular soft tissues as a consequence of the continuous braking phases typical of the throws performed in this sport [ 26 ].…”

“…On the one hand, possible force imbalances in the rotator cuff are responsible for the braking during the throwing action. In these situations, a lack of IR strength implies a greater risk of injury in the deceleration phase [ 16 ]. On the other hand, the imbalances generated between forces in ER and IR (ER: IR) determine that despite the fact that there may be a difference in force production during ER and IR between dominant arm and non-dominant arms (ER = 133.1 N vs. 128.4 N and IR = 207.9 N vs. 196.8 N respectively), there are hardly any variations in the inter-articular ratio (ER:IR = 0.65 dominant arm vs. 0.67 non-dominant arm) [ 17 ].…”

Heredity and Environment as Determining Factors in the Game of Water Polo

“…"Water polo players require a high level of upper-extremity strength, flexibility and coordination to achieve a peak level of throwing performance." (Hams et al, 2019(Hams et al, , p. 2588) "Growth and physical maturation are dynamic processes encompassing a broad spectrum of cellular and somatic changes." (Manna, 2014) At the same time, identifying and explaining the parameters that describe the effectiveness of young water polo players have a major importance (Hraste et al, 2014).…”

Goal Shot Analysis in Elite Water Polo—World Cup Final 2018 in Berlin

“…According to [22], on the side of the more general performance characteristics of the players' the age [17] and body height [21] are primary variables that influence the throwing velocity. On the side of the trainable physical components, hand grip strength [36] as well as shoulder rotator strength [18,37], specifically the pectoralis major muscle and deltoid muscle strength [38], and in-water shoulder proprioception [39], are the main determinants of throwing speed. Also a positive impact on throw velocity was shown for the vertical jump height by means of the water polo boost, and the height of the head above the water surface during the throw [17].…”