Influence of hand-held racket on scapulothoracic kinematics during humeral elevation in the scapular plane in young tennis players: a preliminary study
Résumé
In overhead activities, and particularly in tennis, themajority of the force required to propel the ball forwards is developed in the legs and trunk in a closed chain manner, funnelled through the scapulohumeral complex and transferred to the racket (Sciascia et al. 2012). Specific segment positions and motions are fundamental for an efficient linkage of multiple segments in such kinetic chain (Sciascia et al. 2012).Among the ideal nodes of the tennis serve, the coupled scapular retraction/arm rotation to achieve cocking in the scapular plane is recommended (Sciascia et al. 2012). The scapula is conflicting as it is required to provide both significant mobility through a large arc of motion and a stable base for arm function (McClure et al. 2012). These competing functions make the scapular region vulnerable to scapular dyskinesis. Such alterations in scapular motions are observed in up to two-thirds of overhead athletes' shoulder pathologies (Kibler and Thomas 2012). As a consequence, early evaluation of scapular kinematics is indicated to prevent the athlete's risk of shoulder injury, and potentially minimise the occurrence of such injury later in the player's career. Moreover, tennis is one of the overhead activities involving an implement, hence questioning the racket influence on scapular motions. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the scapulothoracic kinematics during scaption in young tennis players when holding or not the tennis racket.