Angle of Kyphosis Curve, Forward Head and Motion Rang of Shoulder Joint in Elite Handball Players

Abstract

When athletes enter professional activities, they may face abnormalities<br />which are variable depending on the type of sport activities. Forward head,<br />shoulder mal-alignments and spinal column are the main postural<br />deviations in athletes with overhead activity. These abnormalities make<br />athletes prone to injury. This research was conducted with 68 athletes from<br />MES KERMAN, STAR FOROUGH KERMAN and SAMENOL HOJAJ<br />MASHAD teams who were selected by accessible method. The subjects were<br />divided into two groups: injured (N=40, age=24.27±4.43 yr, height=<br />186.55±7.24 cm, weight=85.17±10.06 kg) and healthy (N=28, age=23.85±3.82<br />yr, height=183.67±8.36 cm, weight=82.32±9.27 kg) using exclusion<br />criteria. To assess forward head, a goniometer was used; to assess<br />kyphosis, a flexicurve and to assessment ROM, Leighton flexometer were<br />used. To study subjects' injuries, self-report injury form was used. Data<br />were analyzed with SPSS20, independent t test and Pearson correlation<br />coefficient (P􀂔0.05).The results showed a significant difference in angle of<br />kyphosis curve (P􀂔0.013) and forward head (P􀂔0.001) between healthy and<br />injured handball players. Also, there was a significant difference between<br />the angle of kyphosis curve and ROM of internal rotation of dominant hand (r=0.72, P􀂔0.001), external rotation of dominant hand (r= -0.48, P􀂔0.002),<br />internal rotation of non-dominant hand (r=0.79, P􀂔0.001), external rotation<br />of non-dominant hand (r= -0.42, P􀂔0.038) and shoulder joint of injured<br />handball players. It can be concluded that if athlete enter professional<br />sports and repeatedly train the specific skills, it may cause postural<br />abnormalities and injury. These abnormalities cause kinematic changes in<br />joints.