STRENGTH VALUES OF SHOULDER INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ROTATORS IN JUNIOR TENNIS PLAYERS

Character of modern tennis game in the last decade has become significantly more dynamic, fast andpowerful, which brings high strain to joint and muscular system. The aim of this research was to establishstrength level of external and internal shoulder rotators, and to compare the competitive tennis playersgroup of boys (TEN, n=10, aged 12-14 years) and boys who did not perform any sport activity at competitivelevel (CS, n=10, aged 12-14 years) as well as to assess lateral differences in both groups. Using isokineticdynamometry method (Humac Norm CSMI Stoughton, MA, USA), we tested strength level of external andinternal shoulder rotators (180°/s, 300°/s). The TEN and CS group are comparable from the aspects of age,body height and body weight. Comparison of isokinetic strength values in TEN and CS groups proved significantlyhigher strength level of external and internal rotators in both (dominant and non-dominant) extremitiesfor the TEN group. The lateral difference assessment proved the insignificant difference in externaland significant difference in internal rotators in the TEN group, and the insignificant difference in both theexternal and internal rotators in the CS group. A lower strength level was found in the internal rotators incomparison with the external rotators in both groups (for both the dominant and non-dominant extremity),whereas in the TEN group lower differences between the external and internal rotators of the dominantextremity were proved. Although researches on adult highly skilled tennis players refer to a higher strengthlevel of the upper extremity internal rotators, this fact has not been pronounced in the TEN group. An idealexternal/internal rotators ratio in adult players is considered within the interval of 66-75%. Significantlyhigher values obtained in the TEN group might be attributed to lower age and also lower performance level.It can be said that the level of isokinetic strength in the TEN the group is significantly higher than in the CSgroup, due to the influence of long-term game and training load. Key words: isokinetic dynamometry, glenohumeral joint, muscular dysbalances, prediction of injury