The effect of 8 weeks' scapular focused training on pain, proprioception, scapular kinematics and upper extremity performance in male volleyball players with shoulder impingement syndrome

Background: Shoulder impingement syndrome is one of the most common disorders in volleyball players, which can lead to a decrease in athletes' performance by altering their proprioception, muscles imbalances and movement patterns. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks' focused scapular training on pain, proprioception, scapular kinematics and upper extremity performance in volleyball men with shoulder impingement syndrome.

Methods: In this study 30 male volleyball players with shoulder impingement syndrome was selected from statistical population as a sample and randomly divided into two groups of training (N=15) and control (N=15). The training group performed eight weeks of focused scapular training for 60 minutes in three sessions per week. Pre-test and post-test of pain, proprioception, scapular kinematics and upper extremity performance were measured in two groups.

Results: The results showed that training significantly reduced pain (P≤0.001), reduced error of regeneration (P≤0.001), increased scapular upward rotation in 135 degrees (P≤0.001), and increased upper extremity performance (P≤0.001). There was no statistically significant increase in scapular upward rotation at 45, 90 and end of range of motion in the training group (p>0.05). No statistically significant changes were observed in the control group (p>0.05).

Conclusion: It seems that eight weeks of scapular focused training had an effect on the pain, proprioception, scapular kinematics, upper extremity performance of volleyball players with shoulder impingement syndrome.So it can be used as an appropriate training method in volleyball players with shoulder impingement syndrome.