Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Oct;126(19-20):655-8.
doi: 10.1007/s00508-014-0595-4. Epub 2014 Sep 6.

Is suprascapular neuropathy common in high-performance beach volleyball players? A retrospective analysis

Karin Pieber  1 , Malvina Herceg, Christian Fialka, Gerhard Oberleitner, Wolfgang Gruther, Tatjana Paternostro-Sluga
Affiliations

Is suprascapular neuropathy common in high-performance beach volleyball players? A retrospective analysis

Karin Pieber et al. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Pain in the shoulder is a common problem in overhead sports and at times goes along with atrophy of the supra- and infraspinatus muscles. A neuropathy of the suprascapular nerve is one possible reason. The aim of the study was to examine the suprascapular nerve in Austrian high-performance beach volleyball players.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 18 high-performance beach volleyball players were included. An electrophysiological examination was performed consecutively. Nerve conduction studies of the suprascapular nerve were performed bilaterally. Needle electromyography was done for the infraspinatus muscle of the dominant arm. Additionally, pain and muscle atrophy were evaluated.

Results: No acute or chronic neurogenic changes in the infraspinatus muscle were seen in any player, although atrophy of the suprascapularis innervated muscles was present in five players.

Conclusions: A lesion of the suprascapular nerve could not be shown in any of the players. Therefore, a biomechanical cause has to be considered for the clinical symptoms in the present study population.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2003 Jul-Aug;12(4):333-6 - PubMed
    1. Am J Sports Med. 2009 Jul;37(7):1375-83 - PubMed
    1. Ann Rheum Dis. 1993 Nov;52(11):829-34 - PubMed
    1. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1987 Feb;69(2):260-3 - PubMed
    1. Am J Sports Med. 1990 Jan-Feb;18(1):80-6 - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources