KONSTANTINOS GIANNAKOPOULOS, ANASTASIA BENEKA, AND PARASKEVI MALLIOU
Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, Greece.
ABSTRACT. Giannakopoulos, K., A. Beneka, and P. Malliou. Isolated versus complex exercise in strengthening the rotator cuff muscle group. J. Strength Cond. Res. 18(2):144–148. 2004.—The purpose of this study was to compare 2 different training modes in improving shoulder cuff muscular performance.
Thirty-nine participants were randomly assigned into 3 groups: the isolated group exercised using 2-kg dumbbells; the complex group used a protocol with complex exercises; and the control group had no training. All participants trained for 6 weeks (3 times per week) and were evaluated isokinetically before (pretest) and after the training period (posttest).
Results showed that the complex group significantly improved their muscular performance, but the isolated group did not, indicating that isolated exercises are only effective when the training goal is to strengthen the weaker muscle group, but they must be replaced by more complex and closed-kinetic exercises in order to obtain considerable improvement of the rotator cuff strength.
The authors propose that a strengthening program should start with isolated movements for better stimulation of the weaker muscles and continue with complex exercise for more impressive strengthening.
KEY WORD: internal/external rotators, peak torque values.
P C Malliou, K Giannakopoulos, A G Beneka, A Gioftsidou, G Godolias
Br J Sports Med 2004;38:766–772. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2003.009548
Background: Many studies have compared different training methods for improving muscular performance, but more investigations need to be directed to the restoration of muscular imbalances.
Objective: To determine the most effective training for altering strength ratios in the shoulder rotator cuff.
Methods: Forty eight physical education students were randomly assigned to four groups (12 per group):
Testing was performed in the supine position with the glenohumeral joint in 90˚ of abduction in the coronal lane, with a range of motion of 0–90˚ of external rotation and 0–65˚ of internal rotation at angular velocities of 60, 120, and 180˚/s. The test procedure was performed before and after the exercise period of six weeks.
Results: One way analysis of variance found no differences between the groups for the initial tests.
Analysis of variance with repeated measures showed that the strength ratios in all the experimental groups had altered after the exercise period, with the isokinetic group showing the most significant improvement.
Conclusions: Isokinetic strengthening is the most effective method of altering strength ratios of the rotator cuff muscle.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2004, 18(1), 114-148
Θέμα: Η συγκεκριμένη εργασία παρουσιάζει και συγκρίνει δύο διαφορετικούς τρόπους εξάσκησης του μυϊκού συμπλέγματος των στροφαίων του ώμου κατά τη διάρκεια ενός πειραματικού προγράμματος. Μία σειρά τόσο από απόλυτα επικεντρωμένες όσο και από πολυμερείς ασκήσεις εφαρμόσθηκαν σε μία ομάδα συμμετεχόντων κατά τη διάρκεια 6 εβδομάδων. Τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης δείχνουν οτι ένα πρόγραμμα ενδυνάμωσης των μυών πρέπει να ξεκινά με επικεντρωμένες ασκήσεις για ενίσχυση των πιο αδύναμων μυών και να συνεχίζει με πολυμερείς ασκήσεις για καθολική ενδυνάμωση.
