Thoracic Mobility Exercises on Athletic Skills of Adolescent Volleyball Players

Overview

Thoracic mobility is a significant contributing factor to the enhancement of athletic abilities and performance. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of thoracic mobility exercises on strength, endurance, flexibility, and spike and serve speed of female adolescent volleyball players. Thirty-six adolescent female volleyball players will participate and be divided into two groups: one will receive regular training, while the other will receive additional thoracic mobility exercises for four weeks. Shoulder's Internal and external rotation strength, endurance, thoracic mobility, and spike and serve speeds will be evaluated.

The ability of the shoulder and upper extremity to move in a functional manner is dependent upon the coordinated action of multiple body parts, including the shoulder, thoracic spine, and pelvis, which collectively form the kinetic chain. The kinematic relationship of the thoracic spine and shoulder within this synergy has not been fully explained. An understanding of kinematics allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the trunk position, which is a combination of thoracic and lumbar motion. This evaluation must consider the thoracic spine, as it also affects shoulder muscle function. Thoracic spine movement contributes to upper extremity functionality, especially in activities involving positions from the middle to the end of the shoulder range of motion in the sagittal plane. Therefore, deficiencies in thoracic extension may create more stress on other components of the kinetic chain in athletes engaged in overhead sports activities and may have a negative effect on the athlete's performance and ability to compete. Although the thoracic spine has not been covered much in the sports literature due to relatively low pain prevalence and measurement difficulties, evidence supports that the thoracic spine plays an important role in sports performance. An estimated 55% of the total force and kinetic energy generated during a throwing motion is of kinematic importance for the upper extremity, as it contributes approximately 80% of the total available trunk rotation motion. The incidence of elbow and shoulder injuries is three times higher in athletes with a limited range of motion in trunk rotation. Current rehabilitation approaches following shoulder injuries focus on treating the specific signs and symptoms of shoulder pathology rather than the possible disorders within the kinetic chain and the functional interaction between the shoulder complex and the trunk. Nevertheless, the incorporation of injury prevention and therapeutic modalities comprising thoracic mobility exercises into rehabilitation protocols is purported to be advantageous in terms of both athletic performance and the risk of recurrent injury to the elbow and shoulder regions.It is important to add thoracic mobility exercises to training at an earlier period to reduce upper extremity injury rates in elite athlete populations and to gain the practice habits of preventive exercises. If the spine, which is still undergoing development in adolescent athletes, can be trained in the direction of these gains, it is possible to achieve healthier athletes with a low incidence of injury and high levels of sporting performance. In the light of this literature information, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of thoracic mobility exercises added to the training programs of adolescent volleyball players on shoulder strength, endurance, thoracic joint mobility and performance indicators such as spike and serve speeds. This study is designed as a randomized controlled study. For the athletes invited to the study, first randomization will be applied with computer-based program, and two groups will be formed as mobility and control. Then, thoracic rotation range of motion, trunk hyperextension levels, internal and external rotation muscle strengths, scapular endurance, spike and serve speeds and demographic data of all participants will be recorded. The control group participated only in team training while the mobility group will be subjected to thoracic mobility exercises in addition to team training for 4 weeks. The measurements will be repeated after 4 weeks to evaluate possible differences between the groups.