INTRODUCTION:
There is little information that correlates the functional tests with more accurate tests such as isokinetic dynamometry.
OBJECTIVE:
To correlate the isokinetic variables peak torque (PT), mean power (MP) and total work (TW) of the internal rotators of the shoulder in male handball athletes, through the medicine ball throw (MBT) functional test.
METHODS:
25 male, amateur handball athletes, with an average age of 17.72 ± 2.16 years, took part in this study. The data collection was performed on two different days, with an interval of 48 hours between sessions. The athletes were assigned by a random draw, to perform the isokinetic assessment or the MBT test. For the MBT test, the athlete was instructed to throw a medicine ball (3kg) as far as possible. For the isokinetic analysis, speeds of 60°/s and 180°/s were used, evaluating the muscular capacity of the internal rotator muscles of the shoulder. To analyze the associations, Pearson's correlation and simple linear regression were used.
RESULTS:
Moderate associations (0.60 ≤ r < 0.70; p<0.05) were observed for the variables PT, MP and TW with the MBT test at the speed of 60°/s. Also, high correlations (r ≥ 0.70; p<0.05) were observed between the variables studied at the speed of 180°/s.
CONCLUSION:
The isokinetic variables PT, MP and TW of the internal rotators of the shoulder of the dominant arm in male handball athletes show a moderate and high correlation with the functional MBT.
shoulder; torque; muscle strength dynamometer
