Immediate effects of two types of stretching techniques on glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and posterior shoulder tightness; a crossover randomised controlled trial

Objectives: Various stretching techniques have been proposed to prevent or improve Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit (GIRD) and Posterior Shoulder Tightness (PST). Common stretching techniques include modified sleeper stretch and cross-body stretch. The current evidence is unclear which stretching technique is more effective. This study aimed to examine immediate effects of modified sleeper stretch and cross-body stretch on GIRD and PST. Methods: This study was a crossover randomised controlled trial. 12 young healthy individuals (nine men and three women, age 20.9 ± 0.3 years, body mass index 21.3 ± 1.3) were recruited. At two separate sessions, participants actively performed a randomly assigned stretching technique; modified sleeper stretch, or cross-body stretch. Range of motions (ROM) of dominant shoulder in external rotation (ER), internal rotation (IR) and horizontal adduction (HA), were assessed before and after stretching interventions. Results: Both stretching interventions led to significant immediate improvements in IR and HA (p<0.01), however not in ER. There was no significant difference between the two intervention groups in terms of ROM changes. Conclusion: Both modified sleeper stretch, and cross-body stretch might be applied effectively to treat GIRD and PST in the short term, as long as they do not provoke pain.