ANALYSIS OF SHOULDER MOBILITY, POSTURE, MUSCLE STRENGTH, AND UPPER LIMB FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE IN WEIGHT TRAINING PRACTITIONERS WITH AND WITHOUT SHOULDER INJURY, AND NON-PRACTITIONERS: A COMPARATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Resistance training. Assessment. Upper limb. Musculoskeletal factors.
Introduction: Resistance training, commonly referred to as weight training, is widely recommended for enhancing muscle strength and promoting overall health. Training focused on the upper limb is a primary emphasis among weight training practitioners, with the shoulder complex being particularly stressed during exercises. In athletic populations, including individuals with shoulder injuries, physiological changes related to mobility, posture, muscle strength, and upper limb performance have been well-documented. However, among weight training practitioners, the prevalence and characteristics of these adaptations require further investigation, given that many have been associated with an elevated risk of shoulder injuries.
Objective: The objective of this study is to compare shoulder mobility, posture, isometric strength of the shoulder complex, and upper limb functional performance between weight training practitioners with and without shoulder injuries and non-practitioners.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study will include 222 participants of both sexes, divided into three groups (74 per group: n = 37 males and n = 37 females): a group of weight training practitioners without shoulder injury (GMSL), a group of weight training practitioners with shoulder injury (GMCL), and a non-weight training group (GNP). Participants will be assessed for the following outcomes: shoulder mobility/flexibility, measured using an inclinometer for medial, lateral, and total rotations, shoulder flexion, and posterior capsule flexibility; posture, assessed using calipers to measure acromion distance and to evaluate the presence of scapular dyskinesis; isometric muscle strength, measured using a hand dynamometer for shoulder rotators, scapular plane abductors, the upper and lower trapezius, and the serratus anterior; and functional performance, assessed through Pull-Up and Push-Up tests. Statistical analysis will be conducted using One-Way ANOVA in IBM® SPSS®, with a 95% confidence interval and a significance level of 5%.
Expected Results: The findings from this study are expected to provide significant insights for clinical practice, particularly in the assessment and prevention of injuries. The results may highlight critical factors to be considered in weight training practitioners with shoulder injuries and asymptomatic individuals, contributing to developing more effective intervention and prevention strategies.