Klinische Sportmedizin

Abstract

Aim. The human bodys ability to sense positions of body parts in the three dimensional space is defined as the joint position sense (JPS). Worsening of JPS due to acute local fatigue in e.g. shoulder joints coincides with a decline of handball specific abilities such as throwing accuracy. The purpose of our study was to determine the influence of acute global fatigue induced by a simulated handball match on local JPS of shoulders, hips and knees. Methods. Male elite handball players (n=18) were tested before (PRE) and after (POST) a simulated handball match using an angle reproduction test in shoulders, knees, and hips, respectively. The simulated handball match comprised a distance of 4680m, 81 accelerations, 9 throws, 18 jumps, 180 ball-contacts, 234 changes in direction, 225 changes in speed in 45 minutes 27 seconds. Results. JPS in athletes shoulders (PRE: 5.3; POST: 8.8;  : 3.4; p=0.023) and hips (PRE: 2.8; POST: 6.1;  : 3.2; p=0.004) decreased significantly whereas knees (PRE: 6.4; POST: 7.3;  : 0.9; p=0.561) were not affected by the simulated handball match. Conclusion. JPS worsened after a simulated handball match in shoulders and hips of male elite handball players, but remained unchanged in athletes knees. The decreased potential in JPS in shoulder and hip joints may impair the accuracy in throwing and speed in side cuts and could thereby have a detrimental effect in a professional handball game.Key Words: angle reproduction, hip, knee, shoulder, proprioception.