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. 2022 Nov;38(13):2505-2513.
doi: 10.1080/09593985.2021.1934925. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Longitudinal assessments of strength and dynamic balance from pre-injury baseline to 3 and 4 months after labrum repairs in collegiate athletes

Ling Li  1 , Brenna K McGuinness  1 , Jacob S Layer  1 , Yu Song  1 , Megan A Jensen  2 , Boyi Dai  1
Affiliations

Longitudinal assessments of strength and dynamic balance from pre-injury baseline to 3 and 4 months after labrum repairs in collegiate athletes

Ling Li et al. Physiother Theory Pract. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Background: There is a lack of quantitative assessments of athletes' functional strength and dynamic balance following labrum repairs.

Purpose: To compare the upper extremity strength and dynamic balance among pre-injury baseline and approximately 3 and 4 months after labrum surgeries in collegiate athletes to identify critical values to inform rehabilitation.

Methods: Fifteen male and one female collegiate athletes between 18 and 22 years old were tested at pre-injury baseline (n = 14) and 2.7 (n = 16) and 3.8 months (n = 12) after labrum surgeries. Strength was assessed using the peak forces produced in a maximal push-up test. Dynamic balance was assessed using the reaching distances in a reaching test.

Results: The injured side's peak forces significantly decreased from the baseline to the 3-month post-surgery and then significantly increased between the 3-month and 4-month post-surgery assessments but remained significantly less at the 4-month post-surgery compared to the baseline (p ≤ 0.024; Cohen's dz ≥ 0.75). Peak force asymmetries were greater at the 3-month and 4-month post-surgery assessments than the baseline (p ≤ 0.005; Cohen's dz ≥ 1.02).

Conclusion: With a relatively small sample size, the results support the use of objective functional assessments for rehabilitation and return-to-play decisions among collegiate athletes following labrum repairs.

Keywords: SLAP; bankart; force; labrum surgery; range of motion.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The maximal push-up test on two force platforms.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The upper extremity reaching test.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Bilateral ground reaction forces in the push-up test. Peak pushing forces for the non-injured and injured sides are circled.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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