Effect of eight weeks of NASM exercises on shoulder functional tests

Shoulder functionality is crucial in firefighting activities. In this study, we examined the effects of an 8-week NASM exercise program on limitation of shoulder functionality.

We administered the shoulder mobility functional test on all firefighters lived in Isfahan, and randomly selected 17 volunteers with functional limitations. Then, we administered four functional tests (Y balance, Shoulder raise, Apley’s scratch, and Shoulder circumduction) as the criteria. After 8 weeks, we repeated the criteria tests and then we started their exercise program based on NASM approach. The exercise program consisted of 8 weeks of3-session training per week. We repeated the criteria tests at the end of exercise program. We analyzed the data by one-way ANOVA and set the significance level at 0.05.

Out of 524 active firefighters, 210 (%40) had limitations in shoulder functionality. There was no significant change in none of four criteria tests at the end of 8 weeks of detraining (P ≥ 0.05 , d ≤ 0.03). Whilst, there was a significant change in each of four criteria tests at the end of 8 weeks of training (P ≤ 0.05 , d ≥ 0.04).

Descriptive statistics showed a remarkable percentage of firefighters had functional limitations in shoulder. Inferential statistics supported the use of exercise training based on NASM approach to treat shoulder limitations. In general, our findings suggest the use of NASM guidelines in designing exercise training to recover shoulder functionality.