The Effect of Eight Weeks of Neuromuscular Training on the Function and Range of ‎Motion of the Shoulder Joint in Athletes with Functional Instability of the Shoulder

Impaired shoulder function and range of motion are important consequences of functional instability of the shoulder joint in overhead athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a period of neuromuscular training on range of motion and shoulder function in athletes with functional instability of the shoulder joint.The present study was performed quasi-experimentally with pre-test and post-test design. The statistical sample consisted of 30 girls aged 22 to 35 years who were selected purposefully and available based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and finally were randomly divided into two groups of control and training. All subjects participated in the research voluntarily after completing the consent form. In the pre-test stage, shoulder joint function was assessed by YBT–UQ test and also shoulder joint range of motion was assessed by goniometer. After the pre-test, the subjects in the exercise group performed a neuromuscular training program for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. At the end of 8 weeks of training, all the measurements that were performed in the pre-test stage were performed again in the post-test stage. Two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to analyze the obtained data.Findings showed that neuromuscular exercises of the shoulder joint significantly increase the score of the upper limb function test of the subjects of the exercise group in all three directions, as well as significantly increase the range of motion of the shoulder joint in flexion, abduction, internal rotation and external rotation (p≤0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the above variables between pre-test and post-test in the control group (p≥0.05). Also, the results showed that in the post-test, there is a significant difference between all the investigated variables between the two groups (p≤0.05).Neuromuscular training develops muscle coordination and strength due to its multifaceted approach. Improving the efficiency of the neuromuscular system increases the function and range of motion of the shoulder joint. Therefore, this training method can be used as a suitable option in the rehabilitation of athletes with functional shoulder instability.