MECHANISM FOR SHOULDER PAIN AND INJURY IN ELITE BADMINTON PLAYERS

Mechanism for shoulder pain and injury in elite badminton players

Xiao Zhou¹, Kazuhiro Imai¹, Zhuo Chen¹, Xiao-Xuan Liu¹, and Eiji Watanabe²

¹Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan; ²Institute of Sport, Senshu University, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan

Purpose: to detect the mechanisms for shoulder pain and injury during forehand overhead stroke using the questionnaire and 2D video analysis.

Methods and Materials: Participants were 48 university badminton players (aged 18-22) with national tournament level who had no current shoulder injuries. A questionnaire investigation and a forehand overhead clear test were performed. The angle of arm slot at the moment of hit was calculated from 2D videos analysis using Image J software. Data were compared between badminton players with shoulder problems and those without.

Results: There were 6 badminton players reported a history of shoulder injury that all of them were offensive players. 11 badminton players (8 offensive players and 3 defensive players) reported present shoulder pain that offensive players showed 7.33 times more likely to sustain present shoulder pain than defensive players (OR = 7.33, 95%CI: 1.55-34.70, p = 0.007; Fisher’s Exact test: p = 0.012). Moreover, offensive players with present shoulder pain had significantly greater score of VAS (visual analog scale) than defensive players (74.0 mm ± 14.2 mm vs 44.6 mm ± 24.4 mm, p = 0.04). Significant differences of arm slot angle were found among badminton players with shoulder pain free, history of shoulder injury and present shoulder pain (35.74o ± 4.85^o vs 42.90^o ± 11.89 o vs 37.81^o ± 6.40^o, F = 3.27, p = 0.047).

Conclusion: Offensive badminton players are more likely to suffer from shoulder injury and strong intensity of shoulder pain. Greater arm slot angle of hit phase might be the mechanism leading to shoulder problems in badminton players. For improving shoulder re-injury prevention and rehabilitation protocols, our findings should be taken into consideration by physiotherapists, physicians and coaches.

Keywords: national level badminton players, forehand overhead stroke, 2D analysis, arm slot angle, VAS

Free Full-text PDF

How to cite this article:
Xiao Zhou, Kazuhiro Imai, Zhuo Chen, Xiao-Xuan Liu, and Eiji Watanabe. Mechanism for shoulder pain and injury in elite badminton players. Internal Journal of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2022; 5:25. DOI: 10.28933/ijsmr-2022-06-1505

References:

1. Lo D, Stark K. Sports performance series: the badminton overhead shot. Strength & Conditioning Journal. 1991;13(4):6-15.
2. Grice T. Badminton: steps to success. Human Kinetics. 2008. p.18-48.
3. Olsen SJ, Fleisig GS, Dun S, Loftice J, Andrews JR. Risk factors for shoulder and elbow injuries in adolescent baseball pitchers. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2006;34:905-12.
4. Jayanthi N, Esser S. Racket sports. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 2013;12:329-36.
5. Sakurai S, Ohtsuki T. Muscle activity and accuracy of performance of the smash stroke in badminton with reference to skill and practice. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2000;18:901-14.
6. Brahms BV. Badminton Handbook: Training, Tactics, Competition. Meyer Verlag; 2014. p.41-3, p.101-2.
7. Zhang Z, Li S, Wan B, et al. The influence of X-factor (trunk rotation) and experience on the quality of the badminton forehand smash. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2016;53:9-22.
8. Gillet B, Begon M, Diger M, Berger-Vachon C, Rogowski I. Alterations in scapulothoracic and humerothoracic kinematics during the tennis serve in adolescent players with a history of shoulder problems. Sports Biomechanics. 2021;20(2):165-77.
9. Oyama S, Yu B, Blackburn JT, Padua DA, Li L, Myers JB. Improper trunk rotation sequence is associated with increased maximal shoulder external rotation angle and shoulder joint force in high school baseball pitchers. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2014;42:2089-94.
10. Escamilla RF, Slowik JS, Diffendaffer AZ, Fleisig GS. Differences among overhand, 3-quarter, and sidearm pitching biomechanics in professional baseball players. Journal of Applied Biomechanics. 2018;34(5):377-85.
11. Zhou X, Imai K, Liu XX, Watanabe E. Epidemiology and pain in elementary school-aged players: a survey of Japanese badminton players participating in the national tournament. Scientific Reports. 2021;11(1):1-9.
12. Zhou X, Imai K, Liu XX. Characteristics and risk factors of badminton injuries/pain in Japanese university badminton players. Japanese Journal of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 2022;42(1):40-47.
13. Ramasamy Y, Usman J, Sundar V, Towler H, King M. Kinetic and kinematic determinants of shuttlecock speed in the forehand jump smash performed by elite male Malaysian badminton players. Sports Biomechanics. 2021;1-16.
14. Barnamehei H, Tabatabai GF, Safar CA, Pouladian M. Upper limb neuromuscular activities and synergies comparison between elite and nonelite athletics in badminton overhead forehand smash. Applied Bionics and Biomechanics. 2018;2018:6067807.
15. Mousavi SH, Hijmans JM, Moeini F, et al. Validity and reliability of a smartphone motion analysis app for lower limb kinematics during treadmill running. Physical Therapy in Sport. 2020;43:27-35.
16. Oyama S, Sosa A, Campbell R, Correa A. Reliability and validity of quantitative video analysis of baseball pitching motion. Journal of Applied Biomechanics. 2017;33(1):64-8.
17. Hainline, B, Derman W, Vernec A, et al. International Olympic Committee consensus statement on pain management in elite athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2017;51(17):1245-58.
18. Fahlström M, Yeap JS, Alfredson H, Söderman K. Shoulder pain–a common problem in world‐class badminton players. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. 2006;16:168-73.
19. Fahlström M, Söderman K. Decreased shoulder function and pain common in recreational badminton players. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. 2007;17(3):246-51.
20. Pardiwala DN, Subbiah K, Rao N, Modi R. Badminton injuries in elite athletes: A review of epidemiology and biomechanics. Indian Journal of Orthopaedics. 2020;54(3):237-45.
21. Warashina Y, Ogaki R, Sawai A, Shiraki H, Miyakawa S. Risk factors for shoulder pain in Japanese badminton players: a quantitative-research survey. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2018;6:84-93.
22. Zaremski JL, Wasser JG, Vincent HK. Mechanisms and treatments for shoulder injuries in overhead throwing athletes. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 2017;16(3):179-88.
23. Fortenbaugh D, Fleisig GS, Andrews JR. Baseball pitching biomechanics in relation to injury risk and performance. Sports health. 2009;1(4):314-20.
24. Oyama S. Baseball pitching kinematics, joint loads, and injury prevention. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2012;1(2):80-91.
25. Scarborough DM, Linderman SE, Sanchez JE, Berkson EM. Kinematic Sequence Classification and the Relationship to Pitching Limb Torques. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2020;53(2):351-9.
26. Zhou X, Imai K, Ren Y. Teaching method using task analysis to boost motor skill and badminton forehand overhead clear skill learning. International Journal of Sports Science & Medicine. 2019;3:47-53.
27. Brachman A, Kamieniarz A, Michalska J, Pawłowski M, Słomka KJ, Juras G. Balance training programs in athletes–A systematic review. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2017;58(1):45-64.
28. Rosario MG, Daniel H, Catie L, et al. Lower limb muscle activity adjustment and lactate variation in response to increased speed with proportional resistance in young adults. International Journal of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2021;4:22.
29. Karadenizli ZI. The Effects of Plyometric Education Trainings on Balance and Some Psychomotor Characteristics of School Handball Team. Universal Journal of Educational Research. 2016;4(10):2292-9.
30. Wilk KE, Yenchak AJ, Arrigo CA, Andrews JR. The advanced throwers ten exercise program: a new exercise series for enhanced dynamic shoulder control in the overhead throwing athlete. Physician and Sportsmedicine. 2011;39(4):90-7.
31. Ohashi T, Ikegami Y, Nakamura Y. Synergetic reconstruction from 2d pose and 3d motion for wide-space multi-person video motion capture in the wild. Image and Vision Computing. 2020;104:104028.