Introduction: A lot of handball players experiences shoulder pain during their handball carrier (Haslan et al., 2008). In baseball altered shoulder mobility (increased external rotation) is found to stress the glenohumeral structures of the shoulder and thereby the disposition to shoulder pain and shoulder injuries (Werner et al., 2001; Miyashita et al., 2008a+b). However, in these studies passive range of motion (ROM) tests are conducted and not the actual range of motion during throwing. The question rises if the measured ROM of the shoulder also influences the real throwing kinematics in handball. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate relationships between the active and passive ROM of the glenohumeral external rotation angle with the maximal external rotation angle and throwing performance during two windup techniques in elite handball players. Methods: Twenty-two elite handball players participated in the study in which the maximal ball release velocity and maximal external rotation angle during maximal standing throws with a whip-like and circular windup (van den Tillaar et al., 2013) were measured together with the maximal active and passive glenohumeral ROM of the external rotation angle lying supine on a bench (Miyashita et al., 2008a). Results: Significantly higher maximal external rotation angles (132o) were found during the throws with the whip like windup than at all other measurements (125o) together with a significantly lower external rotation angle during the active glenohumeral external rotation angles (105o). No significant correlations were found between the glenohumeral ROM of the external rotation with the maximal ball release velocity and the maximal external rotation angles measured during the two types of throws (r . 0.29; p . 0.183). Discussion: Differences in the ROM of external rotation angles can be explained by the use of active and passive structures in the shoulder during the different tests and the two throwing techniques. That no significant correlations were found between the ROM test with the throwing kinematics and performance indicates that the ROM tests on healthy elite handball throwers cannot help us to identify potential fast throwers or recognize potential injuries combined with changed kinematics (Werner et al.,2001; Miyashita et al., 2008b).
© Copyright 2014 19th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Amsterdam, 2. - 5. July 2014. Veröffentlicht von VU University Amsterdam. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.