Does a tackling task effect shoulder joint position sense in rugby players?

Herrington, LC; Horsley, I; Whittaker, L; Rolf, C

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of a simulated tackling task on shoulder joint position sense (JPS) in rugby players. The study also
aimed to assess if differences in JPS occurred between mid range and end of range JPS, and if the tackling task had angle-specific
effects on these values.
Design: Repeated measures.
Setting: University human performance laboratory.
Participants: Twenty-two asymptomatic professional rugby union players.
Main outcome measures: JPS was assessed using two criterion angles in the 901 shoulder abduction position (451 and 801 external
rotation) prior to and following a simulated tackling task.
Results: Prior to the tackling task JPS (absolute error scores) was worse at the 451 than 801 criterion angle (po0.05). Following the
tackling task absolute error scores were significantly increased at the 801 angle (po0.001), with no significant change at the 451 angle
(p40.05), and no significant difference was present for error scores between angles (p ¼ 0.74).
Conclusions: This study found JPS to be significantly reduced following a fatiguing task. But this change was only true for the end
of range position, with JPS in the mid range not changing. If the mechanoreceptors are unable to accurately report shoulder position
in the outer range (stretch) position due to repetitive tackling, then there is a potential for the anterior structures to become stressed
before any compensatory muscle contraction can take place. These results highlight the presence of sensorimotor system deficits
following repeated tackling. These deficits are proposed to contribute to overuse injuries and micro-instability of the glenohumeral
joint which may be related to the increasing rate of shoulder injuries in rugby.

Citation

Herrington, L., Horsley, I., Whittaker, L., & Rolf, C. (2009). Does a tackling task effect shoulder joint position sense in rugby players?. Physical Therapy in Sport, 9(2), 67-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2008.01.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Oct 26, 2009
• Journal: Physical Therapy in Sport
• Print ISSN: 1466-853X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 67-71
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2008.01.001
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2008.01.001
• Related Public URLs: http://www.physicaltherapyinsport.com/