Authors
- Roberto Ćaćan, Polyclinic Peharec, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pula, Croatia; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Health Studies, Department of Physiotherapy, Rijeka, Croatia
- Nino Vidulin, Polyclinic Peharec, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pula, Croatia
Article type:
Original Scientific Paper
Abstract:
Introduction. Numerous passes, shots, contacts, as well as the kinematics of the shot in handball and biomechanics of the shoulder girdle, are among the factors that potentially endanger the shoulder in terms of overuse syndromes, which negatively affect an athlete’s health. The “Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic Shoulder and Elbow Score” (KJOC) is a validated questionnaire assessing the level of function and performance of the upper extremity in overhead athletes. Thus far, there have been no reports on the normative score of shoulder performance in healthy athletes using this questionnaire. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to report a preliminary baseline KJOC score of professional handball players.
Materials and Methods. The questionnaire was completed by 45 male handball players with an average age of 20.40 ± 3.957 years and an average playing experience of 11.44 ± 3.992 years. Results of the 10 specific questions, as well as the overall scores expressed in percentage, were calculated according to the original scoring method.
Results. Out of 45 athletes, 40 reported being healthy at the time of taking the questionnaire. Their average total score, out of a maximum of 100, was 94.4 ± 4.901. Players who reported being injured at the time had an average score of 52.4 ± 14.742.
Conclusion. The average score of healthy handball players appears to be similar to previous reports on healthy baseball players. However, it differs from previously published results on healthy swimmers. Based on existing literature, this paper recommends maintaining an average KJOC score above 90.
Keywords:
shoulder girdle, handball, function
assessment