Open AccessGIRD syndrome in male handball and volleyball players: Is the decrease of total range of motion the turning point to pathology?
Author(s) -
Jonas Schmalzl,
Helen Walter,
Wolfram Rothfischer,
Sören Blaich,
Christian Gerhardt,
Lars Lehmann
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.508
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1878-6324
pISSN - 1053-8127
DOI - 10.3233/bmr-191767
Subject(s) - athletes , internal rotation , physical therapy , range of motion , medicine , external rotation , physical medicine and rehabilitation , amateur , throwing , psychology , surgery , mechanical engineering , political science , law , engineering
BACKGROUND: Adaptations in glenohumeral range of motion may affect overhead athletes and lead to shoulder pathologies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) and postero-superior impingement among male handball and volleyball players and the relationship between these pathologies and training level (amateur vs. professional), position (attack vs. no attack), experience (> 5 years vs. 5 years (odds ratio (OR) 3), in those training > 3 times per week (OR 1.4) and in handball players (OR 2.7). 24% presented with postero-superior impingement. Players active for > 5 years (OR 1.22), professionals (OR 1.14), volleyball players (OR 1.19), offensive players (OR 2.2) and athletes with GIRD > 10∘ (OR 1.5) showed a higher prevalence of postero-superior impingement. CONCLUSION: GIRD is a common phenomenon in handball and volleyball players. Offensive players are frequently suffering from postero-superior impingement. GIRD > 10∘ leads in nearly 75% of the athletes to a decrease of total range of motion and a high rate of postero-superior impingement. Thus, a decreased range of motion seems to be the turning point from adaptation to pathology. Therefore, regular controls of range of motion and countermeasures by means of stretching the posterior shoulder joint should be integrated in the training content.