Relationship between muscle stiffness of the superficial shoulder musculature and subacromial space distance

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Young, Pamela
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Exercise and Sport Science

Abstract

Side-to-side differences in subacromial space distance, muscle stiffness, and pectoralis minor length (PML) and the predictive ability of these physical characteristics to predict subacromial space distance in overhead athletes were investigated. Fifty collegiate overhead athletes completed one testing session of bilateral measurements of the subacromial space distance, muscle stiffness, and PML. The dominant arm exhibited a shorter PML (p=0.02) and greater stiffness of the teres minor (1.50kg: p<0.005; 1.75kg: p<0.005; 2.0kg: p<0.005), posterior deltoid (1.50kg: p<0.005; 1.75kg: p=0.02; 2.0kg: p<0.005), and lower trapezius (1.50kg: p=0.04; 1.75kg: p=0.03; 2.0kg: p=0.03) compared to the non-dominant arm. Neither stiffness nor PML predicted subacromial space distance in either limb of healthy overhead athletes. These side-to-side differences could provide clinicians with a screening tool to identify individuals with asymmetries. Further research is needed to determine the relationship between stiffness of the superficial shoulder musculature and subacromial space distance in overhead athletes with subacromial impingement syndrome.

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