Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
University of Liege and CHU Sart Tilman, Belgium
Note: [] Address for correspondence: B. Forthomme, Department of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Liege, ISEPK – B21, Allée des
Sports 4, B-4000 Liege, Belgium. Tel.: +32 4 366 78 25; Fax: +32 4 366 72 30;
E-mail: jlcroisier@ulg.ac.be
Abstract: Published data related to javelin throwers remain poorly documented.
The objectives of this study were therefore to compare isokinetic strength
profile of the shoulder rotator muscles between javelin throwers and sedentary
persons and to correlate isokinetic data with different field performance
parameters. Eleven male javelin throwers and ten sedentary subjects
participated in the study. Shoulder internal (IRs) and external rotators (ERs)
were isokinetically assessed at 60, 240 and 400°/s in
concentric and 60°/s in eccentric exertions. Subjects
also performed throwing tests successively using a javelin and a ball (both of
800 g mass). Side to side comparison in the throwers group revealed a dominance
effect in the concentric mode for the IRs at all speeds, and for the ERs at
240°/s. Sedentary subjects showed a dominance effect
for the IRs at 60°/s and
240°/s. Simple isokinetic concentric-concentric
ratios and mixed velocity DCRs (eccentric60/concentric240) of the dominant
shoulder were significantly lower in comparison to the non-dominant side
values, in the throwers population. Only the simple ratio at
400°/s and the mixed ratio were significantly lower
in the sedentary subjects (dominant versus non dominant side). With respect to
the dominant shoulder, no significant difference was noted between the groups
the peak torque was bodyweight normalized. However, throwers showed a
significant reduction of the DCR when compared to the control group. In
addition, throwers exhibited moderate to strong correlations (0.61
⩽ r ⩽ 0.89) between IRs and ERs
strength and either the javelin throw test or the personal throwing record. For
the sedentary subjects the javelin throw test was correlated only with the IRs
concentric strength at 240°/s. In conclusion, javelin
throwers showed a significantly reduced mixed ratio in comparison with a
control group, even though body weight normalized peak torques did not differ
between both populations. Significant correlation was established between
rotator peak-torques and javelin throw test among the thrower athletes.
Although training program in thrower athletes classically focuses on IRs
strengthening, our findings strongly suggest the need for ERs performance
improvement.
Keywords: Javelin throwers, isokinetic, shoulder, field performance
