Affiliations: [a] Inter-University Laboratory of Human Movement Biology, University of Lyon, University Jean Monnet, Saint Etienne, France | [b] Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, Sports Medicine Unity, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France | [c] Department of Functional Physiology Explorations, University Hospital of Toulouse-Rangueil, Toulouse, France
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Pascal Edouard, Service de Physiologie Clinique et de l'Exercice, Unité de Médecine du Sport, Bâtiment IRMIS, Campus Santé Innovations, Hôpital Nord, CHU de Saint-Etienne, 42 055 Saint-Etienne Cedex 2, France. Tel.: +33 674 574 691; Fax: +33 477 127 229; E-mail:Pascal.Edouard42@gmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Variations in both afferent proprioceptive information
and efferent motor responses of the shoulder have been separately reported
in overhead athletes. OBJECTIVES: We used a validated force platform method to examine
shoulder sensorimotor control adaptation to overhead sports by analysing the
change in Center of Pressure (CoP) in overhead athletes compared to control
subjects. METHODS: Thirty healthy subjects were divided into four groups:
squash players (SG), javelin throwers (JG) and two representative matched
control groups of nonathletic healthy subjects, respectively. CoP
displacements were measured by a force platform in the upper limb
weight-bearing position with the lower limbs resting on a table up to the
anterior superior iliac spines. RESULTS: There were significant side-to-side differences for SG
(P< 0.05); while not for JG and control groups. There were higher
stabilometric values on the dominant side for SG and JG than their respective
controls (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that the thrower's
shoulder variations could include and/or induce a deficiency in shoulder
sensorimotor control of the throwing side.
