The effect of 8-week online scapular-focused training on scapular kinematics, proprioception, and selected muscles strength in female volleyball players with Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit

Introduction and aim: One of the most significant risk factors for throwing athletes is an internal rotation deficit of the shoulder joint. This study investigated 8-week online scapular-focused training on the scapular kinematics, proprioception, and strength of particular shoulder muscles in female volleyball players with Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit. Methodology: The present study uses a two-group with pre- and post-testing design. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 female athletes with abnormalities in the shoulder joint's internal rotation were split into two groups: experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15). In the pre-test, goniometers were used to measure shoulder range of motion, isokinetic devices were used to measure proprioception and rotator cuff muscle strength, and inclinometers were used to measure scapular kinematics. The experimental group's participants underwent 8-week online scapular-focused training, lasting 30 minutes over three sessions each week. These exercises encompassed strength (with TheraBand) and stretching activities. Ultimately, intra-group and inter-group differences were examined using SPSS version 20 software using paired t-tests and analysis of covariance at a significance level of 0.95. Results: The paired t-test findings revealed that only the experimental group and the pre-test and post-test exhibited a significant difference in all study variables (P<0.05). Additionally, the findings of the analysis of covariance demonstrated a significant difference between the two groups' shoulder proprioception at 45° and 90° in the post-test (p=0.001 and p=0.01, respectively). The two groups also differed significantly in the scapular kinematics at all angles of 45°, 90°, and 135° as well as at the limit of the shoulder's range of motion (p=0.01, p=0.04, p=0.001, and P=0.001, respectively). Additionally, it was found that there were significant differences between the two groups in all variables of isokinetic strength of concentric internal rotation, isokinetic strength of concentric external rotation, isokinetic strength of eccentric internal rotation, and isokinetic strength of eccentric external rotation (p=0.001, p=0.02, and p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Based on the findings, we can conclude that 8-week online scapular-focused training improves scapular kinematics, proprioception, and shoulder internal and external rotator muscle strength in female volleyball players experiencing internal rotation deficiencies of the shoulder joint. It is advised that coaches, experts, and occupational therapists employ these workouts to enhance the aforementioned factors in female volleyball players experiencing shoulder internal rotation deficiencies.