The Differences of Shoulder Range of Motion and Dynamic Stability in Upper Extremity Depending on Ages and Experiences of Shoulder Injuries among Volleyball Players

PURPOSE: This study aimed to verify the differences in shoulder range of motion (ROM) and dynamic stability in the upper extremities depending on the players’ ages and frequency of sports injuries in the shoulder joint.METHODS: A total of 519 volleyball players enrolled in the Korea Volleyball Association and Korean Volleyball Federation participated in this study. All participants answered questions about their experiences of sports-related shoulder injuries and were then categorized into shoulder-injured and non-injured groups. Shoulder ROM (flexion/extension and internal/external rotation) and upper quarter Y-balance (YBT-UQ) were tested by trained examiners. The YBT-UQ was normalized to the arm length (%AL) of the players.RESULTS: Among elementary and middle school players, the shoulder-injured group had lower internal rotation than the non-injured group. In addition, elementary school players with a history of shoulder injuries performed worse in the YBT-UQ test. Regardless of their history of shoulder injury, older patients tended to have decreased shoulder flexion and extension. In the injured group, younger players had lower internal rotation of the shoulder.CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that player age should be considered for rehabilitation to prevent shoulder sports-related injuries in volleyball players.