Isometric and Isokinetic Assessment of Shoulder Rotator Muscle Strength, External/Internal Strength Ratios, and Fatigue Response in Competitive Male Gymnasts.
- 1Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, Laboratory of Human Research and Sport Psychology, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
- 2School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece.
Abstract
This study evaluated shoulder rotator muscle strength, conventional and functional external/internal rotation (ER/IR) strength ratios, and fatigue responses in competitive male artistic gymnasts, compared to a control group consisting of physical education (PE) students. Twenty-six participants were included: 13 competitive gymnasts (22.7 ± 2.3 years) and 13 PE students (22.6 ± 1.5 years), free of shoulder disorders. Shoulder rotator muscle strength was assessed isometrically and isokinetically (60°·s⁻¹ and 180°·s⁻¹) before and after a fatigue protocol comprising 50 maximal concentric internal and external rotations at 240°·s⁻¹. Gymnasts demonstrated significantly higher body mass-normalized peak torque than PE students across the key strength conditions. Before fatigue, conventional and functional strength ratios were generally comparable between groups. Following fatigue, condition-specific changes in ER/IR strength ratios were observed, with gymnasts generally maintaining their pre-fatigue values. Normalized peak torque progressively declined across the 50-repetition protocol in both groups, with no significant between-group difference in the pattern or rate of torque decline. Exploratory analyses of derived fatigue-related measures showed limited and condition-specific between-group differences. Overall, competitive gymnasts demonstrated greater shoulder rotator strength capacity than PE students, whereas the findings did not support a generalized between-group difference in fatigue-related responses. Comprehensive assessment of shoulder strength, ER/IR strength ratios, and fatigue responses may provide useful information for performance monitoring and individualized training.
Related
- Force Plate Based Assessment of Maximal and Rapid Isometric Shoulder Strength During the Return-to-Sport Process After Pectoralis Major Repair in a World-Class Female Wrestler: A Case Report
- Shoulder strength, scapular displacement, and supraspinatus morphology in male and female competitive water polo players: a cross-sectional study.
- Reliability of a Standardized Isokinetic Knee Strength Protocol Across a Slow–Fast Velocity Spectrum in Physically Active Adults with the Biodex System 4 Pro
- Intersession reliability and magnitude of change of isokinetic testing of the glenohumeral rotators in overhead athletes with unilateral shoulder anterior instability
- Trunk Rotation Isokinetic Strength Changes During a 15-Week Periodized Strength Training Program in Three Chinese Elite Paralympic and Deaflympic Throwers.
BibTeX
@article{milosis2026isometric,
title = {{Isometric and Isokinetic Assessment of Shoulder Rotator Muscle Strength, External/Internal Strength Ratios, and Fatigue Response in Competitive Male Gymnasts.}},
author = {Dimitrios C Milosis and Costas Dallas and Georgios Karamousalidis and Garifallia Daroglou and Evdoxia Kosmidou and Anatoli Petridou},
journal = {Sports (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/sports14100433},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42931570},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Isometric and Isokinetic Assessment of Shoulder Rotator Muscle Strength, External/Internal Strength Ratios, and Fatigue Response in Competitive Male Gymnasts.
AU - Dimitrios C Milosis
AU - Costas Dallas
AU - Georgios Karamousalidis
AU - Garifallia Daroglou
AU - Evdoxia Kosmidou
AU - Anatoli Petridou
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - Sports (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/sports14100433
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42931570
AB - This study evaluated shoulder rotator muscle strength, conventional and functional external/internal rotation (ER/IR) strength ratios, and fatigue responses in competitive male artistic gymnasts, compared to a control group consisting of physical education (PE) students. Twenty-six participants were included: 13 competitive gymnasts (22.7 ± 2.3 years) and 13 PE students (22.6 ± 1.5 years), free of shoulder disorders. Shoulder rotator muscle strength was assessed isometrically and isokinetically (60°·s⁻¹ and 180°·s⁻¹) before and after a fatigue protocol comprising 50 maximal concentric internal and external rotations at 240°·s⁻¹. Gymnasts demonstrated significantly higher body mass-normalized peak torque than PE students across the key strength conditions. Before fatigue, conventional and functional strength ratios were generally comparable between groups. Following fatigue, condition-specific changes in ER/IR strength ratios were observed, with gymnasts generally maintaining their pre-fatigue values. Normalized peak torque progressively declined across the 50-repetition protocol in both groups, with no significant between-group difference in the pattern or rate of torque decline. Exploratory analyses of derived fatigue-related measures showed limited and condition-specific between-group differences. Overall, competitive gymnasts demonstrated greater shoulder rotator strength capacity than PE students, whereas the findings did not support a generalized between-group difference in fatigue-related responses. Comprehensive assessment of shoulder strength, ER/IR strength ratios, and fatigue responses may provide useful information for performance monitoring and individualized training.
SN - 2075-4663
ER -