Bilateral Comparison of Anterior Shoulder Position in Elite Tennis Players.
Todd Ellenbecker, E Paul Roetert, Kristyn Petracek and 3 others
PMID 35949371WHAT IT FOUND
Elite tennis players showed significantly greater forward shoulder position on their dominant side.
The average difference between sides was 7-8 mm. This asymmetry is a normal sport-specific adaptation, not necessarily a sign of injury or dysfunction.
Key findings
01Dominant shoulders in elite tennis players were positioned further forward than non-dominant shoulders, with mean differences of 7.65 mm in females and 8.72 mm in males.
02The difference in anterior shoulder position between the dominant and non-dominant side was statistically significant (p < 0.001).
03The authors suggest that differences of 7-8 mm may represent normal adaptation, and that values exceeding this range could indicate a need for intervention for pectoral tightness.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study only included uninjured players, so it cannot tell you what the normal asymmetry looks like in players who currently have shoulder pain. The examiner knew which arm was dominant, which could have introduced bias into the measurements. The study describes an association between sport participation and shoulder position but does not prove that the shoulder position causes injury.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a forward shoulder position on the dominant side is a dysfunction that needs correction. In elite tennis players, this asymmetry is a common adaptation to the sport's demands. Treating a 7-8 mm difference as abnormal may lead to unnecessary intervention.