Introduction: Weightlifting requires high power and musculoskeletal strength. Cvertraining and poor joint movement for a long time may cause high risk for scapular muscles imbalance and dysfunction. Thus, the aimed of this study want to examine the scapular stabilizer muscles strength and flexibility between weightlifters athletes and non-athletes Methods: Eighty-one volunteers (38 males, 43 females) with age 18.81 + 2.37 years, weight 67.74 + 19.75 kg, height 160.82 + 7.78 cm and a body mass index of 26.54 + 8.10 kg / m2 were participated in the study. They were divided into weightlifters group (23 males, 25 females) and control group (13 male, 20 female). At first, muscles flexibility were assessment by using physical method. After that, scapular stabilizer muscles strength included lower trapezius, internal and external rotator were measured via handheld dynamometer (Lafayette, USA) and surface electromyography (BTS FREEEMG, Italy). The scapular stabilizer muscles strength and flexibility data between groups were compared by using the Independent t-test at p <0.05. Results: The study found that shoulder flexibility in weightlifters was significantly less than control group (p <0.05). Weightlifters group demonstrated significantly more scapular stabilizer and upperlimb muscles strength than control group (p <0.05) in dominant and non-dominant side. Discussion: Our study showed Weightlifters muscles inflexible that may be due to the effect from strenuous strength training program. As shoulder muscles are very tight, It affects the strength of shoulder rotator muscles in weightlifters group. This information could be used for the baseline of muscular flexibility training and scapular muscles stabilization exercise program. Thus, the flexibility training programs should be instructed for the weightlifters. In addition, the scapular stabilizer training may be suggested for supplementary program. Especially the lower trapezius, internal and external rotator strength training should be added in weightlifting training to manage muscle dysfunction and gain maximum lifting performance.
© Copyright 2016 21st Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Vienna, 6. -9. July 2016. Veröffentlicht von University of Vienna. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.