Sommervold M, et al. – A determination was carried out of the impact of a shoulder–strengthening program to prevent shoulder pain, among junior female team handball players. There did not appear to be any effect of the shoulder–strengthening program on the prevention of shoulder pain, in the study cohort.

Methods

• For this trial, randomized selection was performed among the best female junior teams (J 16).
• It was carried out in the Trondelag region of Norway, in the 2014-2015 season.
• Three teams were randomized to the intervention group and three teams to the control group.
• Players in the intervention group (n=53) took part in a seven-month, three-times-a-week shoulder-muscle strength-training program.
• Those in the control group (n=53) participated in a comparable handball training, but did not conduct any specific strength training during the season.

Results

• No effect was determined of the strength-training program on the prevention of shoulder pain.
• Shoulder pain was reported, but grading was low on visual analog scale (VAS).
• Both the groups reported pain under 1 on VAS at baseline and posttest, and there was no marked change within or between the groups when it came to the intensity of pain reported on VAS.
• There appeared to be a prominent variation (p<0.048) between the groups on the sport-specific part of the quick-Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) form.
• Nevertheless, it did not fulfill the minimal demand to change and the players scored it low.
• It suggested minor functional problems when it came to team handball.
• The intervention group was considerably stronger (p<0.008) on the push-ups test compared to the control group on the post test.
• The intervention group increased the number of push-ups from 3.1 to 6.4, while the control group went from 2.3 to 3.6.
• Apart from this, there were no marked variations in between the groups.