Angle of Kyphosis Curve, Forward Head and Motion Rang of Shoulder Joint in Elite Handball Players

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc.Student, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

2 Associated Professor, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

3 M.Sc. Student, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

Abstract

When athletes enter professional activities, they may face abnormalities
which are variable depending on the type of sport activities. Forward head,
shoulder mal-alignments and spinal column are the main postural
deviations in athletes with overhead activity. These abnormalities make
athletes prone to injury. This research was conducted with 68 athletes from
MES KERMAN, STAR FOROUGH KERMAN and SAMENOL HOJAJ
MASHAD teams who were selected by accessible method. The subjects were
divided into two groups: injured (N=40, age=24.27±4.43 yr, height=
186.55±7.24 cm, weight=85.17±10.06 kg) and healthy (N=28, age=23.85±3.82
yr, height=183.67±8.36 cm, weight=82.32±9.27 kg) using exclusion
criteria. To assess forward head, a goniometer was used; to assess
kyphosis, a flexicurve and to assessment ROM, Leighton flexometer were
used. To study subjects' injuries, self-report injury form was used. Data
were analyzed with SPSS20, independent t test and Pearson correlation
coefficient (P􀂔0.05).The results showed a significant difference in angle of
kyphosis curve (P􀂔0.013) and forward head (P􀂔0.001) between healthy and
injured handball players. Also, there was a significant difference between
the angle of kyphosis curve and ROM of internal rotation of dominant hand 
(r=0.72, P􀂔0.001), external rotation of dominant hand (r= -0.48, P􀂔0.002),
internal rotation of non-dominant hand (r=0.79, P􀂔0.001), external rotation
of non-dominant hand (r= -0.42, P􀂔0.038) and shoulder joint of injured
handball players. It can be concluded that if athlete enter professional
sports and repeatedly train the specific skills, it may cause postural
abnormalities and injury. These abnormalities cause kinematic changes in
joints.

Keywords