Do shoulder injuries result in alterations to the kinetic chain sequence in throwing athletes?

Owens, Liam P. and Coyles, Ginny and Khaiyat, Omid A. (2024) Do shoulder injuries result in alterations to the kinetic chain sequence in throwing athletes? Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. ISSN 2325-9671 (Accepted for Publication)

Text (KineticChainPaperOwens2024) KineticChain_Manuscript_AcceptedVersion (May2024).pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (309kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Abstract
Background: Kinetic chain sequencing is essential for efficient energy translation through the body in overhead throwing sports. Sequencing breakdown can result in injury to the throwing shoulder and result in the management of athlete recovery in an attempt to minimise the impact on both training and performance.
Purpose: To determine kinematic differences in kinetic chain sequencing, imperative to the prevention from and rehabilitation of shoulder injury, during maximal throwing in overhead athletes with and without shoulder injury.
Study Design: Descriptive Laboratory Study
Methods: Kinematic data was collected and analysed for 36 male overhead athletes with and without shoulder injury (18 participants per group) during maximal overhead throwing trials using 3D motion analysis technology (100 Hz). Peak angular velocities and associated timings of the throwing shoulder, throwing elbow, thorax, pelvis, lead hip and rear hip were calculated to determine the kinetic chain sequence in both groups. Kinematic data were compared by use of independent t-tests and relationships between variables using a Pearson’s Correlation test (both p < 0.05)
Results: The kinetic chain sequencing in overhead athletes with or without shoulder injury is the same until peak elbow extension and shoulder flexion angular velocities occur. These angular velocities occur simultaneously in asymptomatic throwers (both 0.17s prior to ball release) but sequentially in symptomatic throwers (0.06s prior to ball release and 0.67s after ball release, respectively). No differences were evident in stride length (m) or resultant ball velocity (m/s) between the groups, despite differences in key joint angular velocities across kinetic chain segments (p = 0.000 – 0.035). Relationships between resultant ball velocity and all key joint angular velocities evident for symptomatic but not asymptomatic throwers (p = 0.000 – 0.026).
Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that overhead athletes, regardless of shoulder injury history, execute similar kinetic chain sequencing patterns across the lower limb and lumbopelvic-hip complex segments, before differences in the timings of peak elbow extension and shoulder flexion angular velocities of the throwing arm approaching ball release. Further information investigating muscle activity changes and technique parameters during overhead throwing may present explanations as to how it is ensured the kinetic chain sequence is not altered as a result of injury.
Clinical Relevance: This study may provide a new perspective on the kinetic chain and how injury may not change the sequence itself in overhead throwing performance.
Key Words: Motion Analysis; Shoulder Pain; Throwing Biomechanics; Kinematics; Segmental Motion

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Motion Analysis; Shoulder Pain; Throwing Biomechanics; Kinematics; Segmental Motion
Faculty / Department:	Faculty of Human and Digital Sciences > School of Health and Sport Sciences
Depositing User:	Liam Owens
Date Deposited:	05 Jul 2024 12:48
Last Modified:	05 Jul 2024 12:48
URI:	https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/4313

Actions (login required)

View Item