Effect of neuromuscular training on functional throwing performance and speed in asymptomatic cricket players

Reliability and measurement error of tests used for the assessment of throwing performance in overhead athletes: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Throwing Performance (TP) is important in throwing sports. Several tests have been designed to assess TP, and the reliability of these tests was examined in various studies. The aim of this systematic review was to critically appraise and synthesize the studies that examined the reliability of TP tests.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus to identify studies related to TP and reliability. The quality of the included studies was examined through the Quality Appraisal of Reliability Studies (QAREL) tool. Reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), while responsiveness was assessed using the minimal detectable change (MDC). Sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify whether low-quality studies may have biased the recommendations of this review.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies were found eligible. The results showed a moderate level of evidence to suggest that TP tests have good reliability (ICC≥0.76). This recommendation was also applied separately when TP tests were used to measure throwing velocity, distance covered, endurance and throwing accuracy. Also, summated MDC scores were reported to assist coaches in decision-making when using TP tests to detect real performance changes. However, sensitivity analysis showed that there is a significant number of low-quality studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This review revealed that the tests used for throwing performance assessment are reliable; however, due to a significant number of low-quality studies, these results should be used cautiously. Important recommendations of this review may be used in future studies to design high-quality studies.

Shoulder vibratory exercises improves shoulder external rotation muscle strength and shoulder function: Randomized comparison trial

BACKGROUND

Based on electromyography measurements, shoulder vibratory exercises efficiently stimulate shoulder muscles activity. Yet very few studies have supported that shoulder vibratory exercises increased shoulder muscles strength and function, and the noninferiority compared with conventional elastic resistance exercises remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effect of vibratory exercises versus conventional elastic resistance exercises with elastic bands on shoulder external rotation muscles strength and functional performance in young adults.

METHODS

26 young adults (7 males and 19 females, with age 23.89 ± 3.02) were recruited and randomly allocated to shoulder vibratory exercises with FLEXI-BAR (FLEXI-BAR group) or conventional resistance exercises with elastic band (TheraBand group) for 3 times/week, 4 weeks totally. Shoulder external rotator muscles strength test and Underkofler softball distance throw test (USDTT) were performed before and after the training period.

RESULTS

After 4 weeks training, shoulder external rotator muscles strength increased 22.25 ± 15.06 N (P= 0.004, effect size = 1.48) within FLEXI-BAR group and 22.81 ± 14.94 N (P= 0.007, effect size = 1.53) within TheraBand group. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in the three muscle strength tests (P> 0.65). Regarding shoulder function, FLEXI-BAR exercises increased the throw distance 0.81 ± 0.92 meters in USDTT (P= 0.041, effect size = 0.88) while TheraBand exercise did not (P= 0.284), yet there was no statistically significant between group effects (P= 0.608).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that shoulder vibratory exercises can improve shoulder muscles strength in young adults and can be a useful alternative to the conventional elastic resistance exercises to improve the shoulder muscles strength and function. This provides therapists with more options in terms of choosing training equipment for rehabilitation programs.

Effects of neuromuscular training on athletes physical fitness in sports: A systematic review

Objective: This review study aimed to assess the impact of neuromuscular training (NT) on athletes' physical fitness in sports. Methods: Three independent reviewers conducted a literature search in various databases: EBSCOHOST, PubMed, WOS, Mendeley, Scopus, ProQuest, Science Direct, additional references, and Google Scholar. The methodological quality was examined using Lubans' predetermined methods, and data that included trials were excluded. Results: This review included 18 well-conducted systematic studies from 144 relevant publications. These studies were reviewed and have been given a score of 6. Medium-risk studies were scored 3 or 4, while low-risk studies were scored 5 or 6. None of the studies had a high-risk bias. The NT intervention revealed that balance (n = 10) was the main characteristic of physical fitness that was evaluated, followed by agility (n = 6), muscular strength (n = 4), speed (n = 5), endurance and muscular power (n = 2). Subsequently, most studies used an intervention such as plyometric and strength training exercises to improve agility, balance, and muscular strength among athletes. Conclusion: This review implicated that (NT) focuses on exercises that enhance motor skills which aid athletes in moving their bodies according to their situational needs. The athletes' slower and faster directions influence their agility, muscular strength, and balance, essential for player performance. It is recommended for future research to investigate the effects of neuromuscular training (length of 12-weeks, frequency of 3 days per week and 90-min duration) on physical fitness components (coordination, reaction-time, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition) that are essential for all ages of male and female athletes in all sports.

Correlation between Core Stability and Upper-Extremity Performance in Male Collegiate Athletes

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of core stability, as measured by the McGill and double-leg lowering (DLL) test, with upper-extremity performance, as measured by the upper-quarter Y-balance test (UQYBT), medicine ball throw test (MBTT) and functional throwing performance index (FTPI) test, in collegiate athletes. Materials and Methods: A sample of 61 collegiate athletes from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University participated in the study. Their core stability was assessed through their McGill and DLL test scores. Their upper-extremity performance was assessed through their UQYBT, MBTT and FTPI test scores. Results: The McGill test score had a significant strong positive correlation with the MBTT score (p = 0.02, r = 0.67) and a significant moderate positive correlation with the UQYBT score (p = 0.01, r = 0.46). There was no significant correlation between the McGill and FTPI test scores (p ≥ 0.05). The DLL test score was positively correlated with the MBTT score (p = 0.02, r = 0.25) but had no significant correlation with the other sports performance variables (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: The study results suggest that core stability measures are positively correlated with most of the upper-extremity athletic-performance measures in collegiate athletes. The MBTT score was found to be the most significantly correlated with the scores in both core stability tests among all the upper-extremity athletic-performance tests in this study. However, due to the nature of this study, a cause–effect relationship cannot be established on the basis of the study’s findings, and the study results should be interpreted with caution.

Mirror Cross-Exercise on a Kinetic Chain Approach Improves Throwing Performance in Professional Volleyball Athletes With Scapular Dyskinesis

CONTEXT

Volleyball players have shown to be at an increased risk of developing scapular dyskinesis. The kinetic chain exercise approach has gained a lot of attention because of its claims to provide an improved motor control and scapular kinematics. A form of cross exercise, known as mirror therapy, may enhance the effects of a kinetic chain exercise approach in throwing performance.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effects of mirror cross exercise (MCE), based on a kinetic chain exercise approach in the throwing performance of volleyball athletes with scapular dyskinesis.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Biomechanics laboratory.

METHODS

39 volleyball players with scapular dyskinesis were randomly allocated into 3 groups. The first group completed a 6-week kinetic chain approach (KCA group), the second group completed a kinetic chain exercise approach program in addition to MCE group, and the control group followed only their regular training program. Before and after delivering both interventions, throwing accuracy, speed, and force were determined while measuring the ground reaction forces of the drive leg during throwing. Two-way mixed analysis of variance investigated the effects of intervention and time and their interaction.

RESULTS

The results showed intervention × time statistically significant interactions for throwing accuracy, speed, and force for the MCE and the KCA groups. Over the 6-week training period, the MCE and the KCA groups showed significant improvements in throwing accuracy (P < .01) and speed (P < .01), while the ground reaction forces did not change (P > .05). Throwing force increased significantly in the MCE group (P = .01). Between-group comparison showed statistically significant improvements in the throwing accuracy for the MCE and KCA groups against the control group (P < .01) at posttesting. The MCE demonstrated superior results over the KCA in the aforementioned measures.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the addition of MCE in a KCA program enhances energy transfer throughout the distal and proximal segments, thus improving kinetic chain recruitment and potentially preventing shoulder pathology.

Effects of dynamic exercise utilizing PNF patterns on the balance of healthy adults

[Purpose] The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of dynamic exercise utilizing the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation patterns accompanied by the abdomen drawing-in on balance of healthy adults. [Participants and Methods] The total number of participants was 30, and 15 were randomly placed in the training group (TG) and 15 in the control group (CG). The participants in the TG have conducted the 3 sets to 5 sets of dynamic exercise utilizing the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation patterns per day, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The balance was measured by the Terax, a balance-measuring device with force plates. [Results] Comparing the TG's balance pre-test and post-test, there was a statistical significance in stability score (SS), weight distribution index (WDI), CD force plates and AC force plates (A: left rearfoot, B: left forefoot, C: right rearfoot, D: right forefoot). [Conclusion] Dynamic trunk stabilization exercise utilizing the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation patterns seem to help increase the balance of healthy adults.