Bauer Julian, Panzer Stefan, Muehlbauer Thomas
Division of Movement and Training Sciences/Biomechanics of Sport, University of Duisburg-Essen, Gladbecker Str. 182, 45141, Essen, Germany.
Institute of Sport Science, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.
BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2021 Nov 1;13(1):141. doi: 10.1186/s13102-021-00364-3.
Handball is characterised by repetitive passing and shooting actions mainly performed with the throwing arm. This can lead to side differences (inter-limb asymmetry) in upper quarter mobility/stability between the throwing and non-throwing arm, which could even increase with advancing age (i.e., playing experience). However, side differences in upper quarter mobility/stability is associated with an increased musculoskeletal injury risk. Therefore, we assessed side differences in upper quarter mobility/stability in young handball players at different ages using a cross-sectional study design.
Upper Quarter Y Balance test performance of the throwing and non-throwing arm was assessed in 190 sub-elite young female and male handball players (13-18 years). Per arm, relative maximal reach distances (% arm length) for all three directions (i.e., medial, inferolateral, superolateral) and the composite score (CS) were calculated and used for an age × side analysis of variance. Additionally, partial eta-squared (ηp) was calculated as an effect size measure.
Irrespective of measure, statistically significant main effects of age (except for the composite score) and side but no statistically significant age × side interaction effects were detected. Further, limb asymmetry in the inferolateral reach direction was above the injury-related cut-off value (i.e., ≥ 7.75% arm length) in 13- and 14-year-olds but not in the older players.
The detection of limb asymmetry above the proposed injury-related cut-off value in younger players (13- and 14-year-olds) but not in older players (15- to 18-year-olds) may be indicative for an increased injury risk for the younger age group. Thus, prevention programs should be implemented in the handball training routine, especially for the younger ones.
手球运动的特点是主要通过投掷手臂进行重复性的传球和射门动作。这可能导致投掷手臂和非投掷手臂在上肢活动度/稳定性方面出现侧别差异（肢体间不对称），且这种差异甚至可能随着年龄增长（即比赛经验增加）而增大。然而，上肢活动度/稳定性的侧别差异与肌肉骨骼损伤风险增加有关。因此，我们采用横断面研究设计评估了不同年龄段年轻手球运动员上肢活动度/稳定性的侧别差异。
对190名13 - 18岁的次精英男女青年手球运动员的投掷手臂和非投掷手臂进行上肢Y平衡测试。计算每只手臂在三个方向（即内侧、下外侧、上外侧）的相对最大伸展距离（%手臂长度）和综合评分（CS），并用于年龄×侧别的方差分析。此外，计算偏η²（ηp）作为效应量指标。
无论采用何种测量方法，均检测到年龄（综合评分除外）和侧别的统计学显著主效应，但未检测到年龄×侧别的统计学显著交互效应。此外，13岁和14岁球员在下外侧伸展方向的肢体不对称超过了与损伤相关的临界值（即≥7.75%手臂长度），而年龄较大的球员则未超过。
在年轻球员（13岁和14岁）而非年长球员（15至18岁）中检测到超过建议的与损伤相关临界值的肢体不对称，这可能表明较年轻年龄组的损伤风险增加。因此，应在手球训练常规中实施预防计划，尤其是针对较年轻球员。
