Effect of Thrower's Ten Exercise Program on Shoulder Flexibility, Stability and Strength in Water Polo Players
Condition: Shoulder Injuries
MeSH terms: Shoulder Injuries
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Context: Studies have shown that the thrower's ten rehabilitation program is effective in the
      prevention and rehabilitation of injuries in overhead throwing sports. However its effect on
      water polo sports is still unknown.

      Objective: To investigate the effect of thrower's ten (T10) exercise program on shoulder
      flexibility, stability and strength in water polo athletes.

      Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting: Middle East Technical University
      swimming pool and training facilities.

      Intervention(s): T10 group were given thrower's ten exercises 3 times per week for 10 weeks,
      each exercise being 2x10 repetitions. Athletes in the control group were not given any
      additional exercise to their weekly water polo training.

      Main Outcome Measure(s): Before and after the exercise, the upper extremity internal and
      external rotation strength of the athletes was measured with isokinetic dynamometer, the
      shoulder stability was measured with the closed kinetic chain upper extremity test (CKCUEST),
      and the shoulder flexibility was measured with the help of the shoulder joint internal and
      external rotation motion flexibility test.

      Key Words: Thrower's Ten, Water Polo, Stability, Flexibility, Strength
    

Detailed description: 
      Before starting the study, individuals were informed about the purpose of the study, the test
      protocols to be applied and the program.

      Individuals who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated into two groups named T10
      (n=24) and Control (n=26) in a single blinded manner using a computer-based online site
      called "Random Lists". Three separate evaluation tests were administered before and 10 weeks
      after the start of the study.

      Individuals in the T10 group underwent T10 exercise program with a physiotherapist or trainer
      for 10 weeks with 3 sessions per week and at least 1 day between sessions. Individuals in the
      control group were followed up for 10 weeks as they continued their weekly team training
      without being actively subjected to an extra program., After the inital evaluations were
      completed in the T10 group, exercises were started 1 week before the study and the exercises
      were taught. Elastic resistance band in the appropriate color to be used in the program were
      determined based on 70% difficulty according to the OMNI scale.

      The athletes participating in the study were evaluated twice in total, at the beginning and
      at the end of the study. Sociodemographic data including age, weight, height, gender, BMI and
      dominant side were collected. Shoulder strength of the participants was evaluated with an
      isokinetic dynamometer in 90° abduction with external and internal rotation force test at
      angular velocities of 60°/s and 180°/s in two different ways. Upper extremity stability of
      the participants was evaluated by closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test
      (CKCUEST). Shoulder internal and external rotation flexibility of the participants was
      evaluated with the shoulder joint internal and external rotation flexibility of motion test.
    

Intervention name(s): Thrower's Ten Exercise Program
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): T10 group were given thrower's ten exercises 3 times per week for 10 weeks, each exercise being 2x10 repetitions.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: Thrower's Ten; Water Polo; Flexibility; Stability; Strength