Kinematics and Muscle Activity During the Tennis Serve and Musculoskeletal Characteristics in Tennis Players With Subacromial Pain Syndrome or History of Shoulder Pain

Tennis players often suffer from shoulder pain due to the repetitive high-loaded overhead movements during serving, and subacromial pain syndrome is one of the main types of shoulder pain. Previous shoulder injury has been identified as one of the risk factors for shoulder overuse injuries in overhead sports. No research has explored differences in trunk kinematics and shoulder muscle activities among tennis players with and without subacromial pain syndrome or a history of shoulder pain. Furthermore, limited studies have examined shoulder kinematics during tennis serve and musculoskeletal characteristics in tennis players with subacromial pain syndrome or a history of shoulder pain. Therefore, this study aims to investigate shoulder and trunk kinematics and shoulder muscle activity during the tennis serve and musculoskeletal characteristics in tennis players with subacromial pain syndrome or a history of shoulder pain. This study will recruit sixty tennis players with subacromial pain syndrome, a history of shoulder pain, and healthy players. The electromagnetic tracking system will be applied to collect shoulder and trunk kinematics during the tennis serve, and surface electromyography will be simultaneously used for recording shoulder muscle activities. Moreover, we will collect shoulder and trunk rotational joint range of motion, isometric strength and rate of force development of shoulder internal and external rotation, scapulothoracic and glenohumeral joint control capability, upper quarter Y-balance test performance, and posterior shoulder endurance. This study will compare the difference of these measures in tennis players with subacromial pain syndrome or a history of shoulder pain to healthy players.

Inclusion Criteria: * Amateur tennis players * National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) should level ≥ 3.5 * Training experience: ≥ 3 years, current or former school team players * Training volume: ≥ 4 hours/week Exclusion Criteria: * Any current musculoskeletal injuries preventing maximum skill execution at the time of testing * Previously had any form of surgery or trauma * Patient-reported pain that will inhibit participation in this study