Relationship between scapular position and upper extremity strength, power, endurance and balance in adolescent volleyball players

Sezik, A.Ç., Relationship between scapular position and upper extremity strength, power, endurance and balance in adolescent volleyball players, Hacettepe University Institute of Health Sciences, Sports Physiotherapy Programme, Master of Science Thesis, Ankara, 2018. This study was conducted on 60 adolescent volleyball players from Turkish Volleyball Federation High School, with aim of investigating relationship between scapular position and upper extremity strength, power, endurance and balance. Scapular position was evaluated with lateral scapular slide test, scapular upward rotation was measured with inclinometer and protraction and retraction positions was measured with acromion-wall distance. Medicine ball throw test to measure upper extremity power, closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test to measure endurance, upper extremity Y-balance test for balance and hand-held dynamometer to measure isometric scapular muscle strength were used. At the end of our study, we have found no significant relationship between upper extremity closed kinetic chain stabilization and scapular positions (p>0,05). There were significant relationships between medicine ball throwing and upper extremity y-balance test at certain scapular positions (p<0,05). We have found significant relationship between isometric scapular muscle strength and scapular medio-lateral and upwards-downwards rotation positions (p<0,05). As a result of this study, power and balance parameters of shoulder and scapular muscle strength can be predicted based on the scapular positions. Lateral and upward rotated positions of scapula can be beneficial for the upper extremity performance on overhead activities.