Return to sport criteria post glenohumeral joint stabilisation in male contact and collision athletes

Background The path of return to contact and collision sports after glenohumeral joint stabilisation (GHJS) varies significantly among athletes. There are high rates of re-injury and associated fear and anxiety, especially among young male contact and collision athletes. Return-to-sport (RTS) decision-making can be complex for clinicians and physicians, with no consensus on the use of outcome measures following surgery for this cohort of athletes. In this thesis, I explore a battery of objective measures and psychological factors to aid RTS decision-making. Methods This thesis incorporates the work from four research questions (Chapters 3, 5, and 6) and a systematic review of the use of outcome measures following shoulder stabilisation in the athletic population (Chapter 2). The research comprises of observational cross-sectional and prospective longitudinal studies. For this thesis, I recruited un-injured and post-surgical stabilisation male contact and collision athletes. Data collection included force plate capture of upper quadrant performance tests, angle-specific isokinetic shoulder rotational strength, and psychological and shoulder-specific patient-reported outcome measures. Results The outcome variables of three upper quadrant performance tests (the countermovement push-up, press jump and drop box land) performed on dual force plates and angle-specific isokinetic shoulder rotational strength can be reliability measured in the male collision and contact athlete. Compared to an uninjured cohort, I identified strength and power deficits that persist post-GHJS in male contact and collision athletes. These results highlight the need to assess upper limb strength and power parameters post-GHJS, provide rehabilitation targets following surgery and could help reduce re-injury risk, although this needs further exploring. Finally, I demonstrated that psychological responses and self-reported outcome measures assessed before surgery and early recovery were not associated with time to RTS. However, at six months, lower psychological readiness scores identified athletes who returned to sport longer than 12 months. Conclusion This thesis adds novel insights into the use of strength and power measures and self-reported psychological outcome measures following GHJS in male contact and collision athletes. Targeting these outcomes may enhance rehabilitation and could play a role in injury prevention as athletes RTS.

Grantor dc:publisher

University College Cork

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Fanning, Edel

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Falvey, Eanna

• Shoulder instability
• Collision athletes
• Return to sport
• Outcome measures

Statement dc:rights

• © 2023, Edel Fanning.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10468/15458

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:cora.ucc.ie:10468/15458