The Impact of Open Kinetic Chain Exercises and TRX Suspension Exercises on Shoulder Joint Proprioception in Overhead Athletes with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome : Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: Sub-acromial impingement syndrome [SIS] is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain, which affects shoulder joint proprioception. Closed kinetic chain [CKC] exercises with a Sling are more effective and safer than open kinetic chain [OKC] exercises. This study aimed to compare the efficiency of OKC and Sling exercises [TRX] on shoulder sense position joints in overhead athletes with shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). Methods: This randomized control trial study was conducted in Kerman in 2019. The research sample included 33 overhead athletes with impingement syndrome who were randomly classified into three groups [OKC, Sling, and control groups]. The position joint was evaluated in movement external rotation [ER], internal rotation [IN], and abduction [ABD] of the arm dominant in the target angle with respect to the shoulders range of motion with a Leighton flexometer. Data were analyzed using the analysis of covariance [ANCOVA]. Results: The post-intervention results showed a significant difference between groups [ER p < 0.001, IN p < 0.001, and ABD p < 0.001]. The change in the Sling exercises group was significantly higher in EX rotation and IN rotation, except for ABD sense position joint than OKC [p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.235, respectively] and control groups [p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively]. Changes in the OKC group were significantly higher in EX rotation, IN rotation, and ABD sense position joint [p = 0.001, p = 0.019, and p < 0.001, respectively] than the control group. OKC and Sling exercises improved the shoulder sense position joint of overhead athletes with SIS. Conclusions: The results of the investigation revealed that Sling exercises were more effective than the OKC exercise for the shoulder sense position joint because these exercises were CKC and carried out at an unstable level.