Spiking Kinematics in Volleyball Players With Shoulder Pain

Abstract

Context: Spiking is one of the most frequently used scoring techniques in volleyball games, and around 80% of shoulder pain in volleyball players is linked with the spiking movement.

Objective: To investigate the differences in glenohumeral joint, scapular, and trunk movements during the spiking motion between volleyball players with and those without shoulder pain.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University laboratory.

Patients or other participants: Twenty amateur volleyball players with shoulder pain (age = 21.8 ± 1.79 years, with an average of 4.0 ± 0.92 years of volleyball experience and 6.0 ± 3.51 months of shoulder pain) and 20 sex-, age-, and experience-matched control participants.

Main outcome measure(s): The 3-dimensional kinematics of the shoulder joint, scapula, and trunk during spiking were assessed using an electromagnetic tracking system.

Results: Compared with the control group, individuals with shoulder pain demonstrated less scapular posterior tilt ( P = .041) and more glenohumeral horizontal abduction ( P = .008) and scapular internal rotation ( P = .02) at ball contact when performing the cross-body spike.

Conclusions: The decrease in scapular posterior tilt, along with increased glenohumeral horizontal abduction and scapular internal rotation, was associated with shoulder pain in university volleyball players. These changes should be addressed in the training and treatment of young volleyball players.

Keywords: kinematics; shoulder overuse injuries; upper extremity.

Figure 1

A, Sensor placement. B, The footswitch.

Figure 2

Laboratory setting.

Figure 3

Muscle strength testing. A, Shoulder external rotators. B, Shoulder internal rotators. C, Upper trapezius. D, Deltoid muscle. E, Serratus anterior. F, Lower trapezius.

Figure 4

The zone 2 spiking pattern of the shoulder joint before ball contact. A, Elevation. B, Horizontal adduction. C, External rotation.

Figure 5

The zone 2 spiking pattern of the glenohumeral joint before ball contact. A, Elevation. B, Horizontal adduction. C, External rotation.

Figure 6

The zone 2 spiking pattern of the scapula before ball contact. A, Posterior tilt. B, Internal rotation. C, Upward rotation.

Figure 7

The zone 2 spiking pattern of the trunk before ball contact. A, Flexion. B, Side flexion. C, Rotation.