Elite male field hockey players have symmetric isokinetic glenohumeral strength profiles, but show asymmetry in scapular muscle strength

ABSTRACT

Shoulders of elite field hockey players are loaded continuously during play. However, shoulder girdle muscle performance in this population has never been examined yet. This study aimed to compare isokinetic shoulder girdle performance in elite male field hockey players to matched controls, with respect to strength, endurance and muscle balance. The complete male national field hockey team of Belgium (n = 25) was included and matched to a gender- and age-matched control group of healthy participants (n = 25). A Biodex system-4 dynamometer was used to measure glenohumeral and scapular muscle strength at 2 velocities in a concentric/concentric mode. With the main outcome measures being isokinetic strength values, peak force (protraction-retraction), peak torque (rotations), fatigue index and agonist/antagonist ratio’s. Measurement results showed that elite male field hockey players were stronger than their matched controls, for both the rotational and the protraction-retraction movement. Concerning rotational strength, symmetrical findings were established, contrary to scapular strength, where side differences were noted. At low velocity, retraction peak force was higher on the dominant side. Protraction peak force was higher on the non-dominant side when measured at high velocity. In conclusion, elite field hockey players have a symmetrical rotational strength profile, in contrast to their scapular strength profile.

KEYWORDS:

• Field hockey
• elite athletes
• isokinetic shoulder strength
• glenohumeral strength
• scapular strength

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Annelien Claeys, Axelle Delobelle, Siemen Tas, Aran Tulkens and Martijn van den Biggelaar for their help in the acquisition of the data. The authors gratitude also goes out to all the members of the male national field hockey team, the Red Lions, as well as to the volunteers of the control group, for their participation in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.