•  
  •  
 

INFLUENCE OF A WARM-UP PROTOCOL INVOLVING THE KINETIC CHAIN ON ATHLETES’ HIP AND SHOULDER ROTATIONAL ISOMETRIC STRENGTH: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Courtney E. Weber, Jeff W. Barfield. Lander University, Greenwood, SC.

Athletes are at risk for developing injuries if they do not properly stretch or partake in a warm-up prior to engaging in exercise. Previous research has found decreased rotational strength to be associated with increased injury susceptibility. Providing more information on which warm-up style best benefits the hip and shoulder rotational isometric strength could assist coaches and clinicians in preventing injuries and helping athletes compete at a competitive level. Purpose: To investigate the effects of a full body warm-up on an athlete’s hip and shoulder rotational isometric strength. Methods: Six active college-aged individuals (20.67±0.47yrs; 171.70±9.60cm; 73.12±12.77kg) agreed to participate in this study. A handheld dynamometer was used to test participant’s hip and shoulder isometric strength prior to the warm-up protocol (pre-warmup) and after the warm-up protocol (post-warmup). Shoulder rotational isometric strength was assessed in the supine position while hip rotational isometric strength was assessed in the seated position. Warm-up protocol was randomly assigned to participants upon arrival to the lab. Participants in the control group remained seated for ten minutes between measurements. Participants selected for the kinetic chain protocol were given exercises that engage musculature of the lumbopelvic-hip complex as their warm-up protocol. Participants selected for the combination protocol were given exercises that engage musculature of the upper and lower extremities as their warm-up protocol. Three measurements were recorded and averaged for analysis for both the pre-warmup and post-warmup measurements. Results and Conclusion: A within-subjects repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant difference between the selected warm-up and right shoulder internal rotational strength (F(2,3)=24.63, p=0.014). The combination protocol resulted in a slight increase in right shoulder internal rotational strength compared to the intervention and control protocols. No other measurements of strength elicited any differences. The combination warm up protocol took the glenohumeral joint through its full range of motion, specifically targeted musculature of the upper extremity and possibly influencing the isometric strength of the internal rotators on the right side. These findings should be tested on a larger scale to determine if these results are generalizable to all active college-aged individuals.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS