Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2026-4
Changes in shoulder range of motion and muscle strength,and upper limb performance immediately after participation in throwing and racket sports: A systematic review and meta-analysis
To systematically review studies investigating alterations in shoulder range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, and upper limb performance immediately following participation in throwing or racket sports.
Methods
The search was conducted in MEDLINE via Ovid, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Studies assessing changes in shoulder ROM, muscle strength, and upper limb performance immediately after exposure to throwing or racket sports were selected. The Quality Assessment Tool for Before-After Studies (NIH) was used to quantify the risk of bias. Meta-analyses were conducted to verify clinical changes in the selected outcomes.
Results
A total of 9149 records were identified, and 27 were included in the meta-analysis. There was a decrease in internal rotation (IR) ROM of the shoulder (SMD: 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22, 0.79) and throwing speed (SMD: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.70) immediately after participation in throwing sports, while no significant changes were observed in racket sports.
Conclusion
Exposure to real or simulated matches reduced IR ROM and ball speed in throwers but not in racket sports athletes. These results will assist clinicians in planning strategies to mitigate the decreases in sports performance in these athletes between matches.
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