Comparing shoulder proprioception, upper extremity dynamic stability, and hand grip strength in overhead athletes with and without scapular dyskinesis

Scapular dyskinesis is prevalent among asymptomatic athletes, particularly those involved in overhead activities, and can significantly impact their neuromuscular control. These changes may impair upper extremity function and strength, elevating the risk of injury. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate how scapular dyskinesis affects shoulder proprioception, upper extremity dynamic stability, and hand grip strength in overhead athletes. This study compared these parameters between overhead athletes with and without scapular dyskinesis. The study included twenty asymptomatic professional overhead athletes with scapular dyskinesis and twenty without scapular dyskinesis, identified using the lateral scapular slide test. In this cross-sectional study, shoulder active joint position sense, serving as shoulder proprioception, was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Upper extremity dynamic stability and hand grip strength were evaluated using an upper quarter modified star excursion balance test (UQ-mSEBT) and a handheld dynamometer. The study found that the shoulder active joint position sense was significantly lower in the scapular dyskinesis group compared to the group without scapular dyskinesis (PExternal Rotation = 0.003, PInternal Rotation < 0.001, and PForward Flexion = 0.002). However, the two groups had no significant differences in UQ-mSEBT and hand grip strength scores. The results showed that scapular dyskinesis could affect the sense of shoulder active joint position among asymptomatic overhead athletes. However, it did not affect their upper extremity dynamic stability and hand grip strength. •The results of the present study revealed a significant association between scapular dyskinesis and diminished active shoulder proprioception in asymptomatic overhead athletes.•These findings offer valuable insights for future research endeavors investigating the effects of scapular dyskinesis on upper extremity function and proprioception.•The utilization of the LSST as a reliable two-dimensional assessment tool for scapular dyskinesis represents a notable strength of the present study, given its practical applicability in clinical settings.