Prevalence of latent and manifest suprascapular neuropathy in high-performance volleyball players

• Published in: British journal of sports medicine Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 177 - 179
• Main Authors: Holzgraefe, M, Kukowski, B, Eggert, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine 01.09.1994; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Athletic Injuries - diagnosis; Athletic Injuries - epidemiology; Athletic Injuries - prevention & control; Atrophy; Electromyography; Germany - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Monitoring, Physiologic; Motor Neurons - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - innervation; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - diagnosis; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - epidemiology; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - prevention & control; Prevalence; Scapula - innervation; Scapula - physiopathology; Sports - statistics & numerical data; Germany
• ISSN: 0306-3674; 1473-0480
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.28.3.177

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of latent and manifest suprascapular neuropathy in high-level male volleyball players. Thirty subjects were examined clinically and electrophysiologically. Suprascapular neuropathy, most probably at the level of the suprascapular notch, was demonstrated in 12 subjects, being latent in eight. Taking into account our clinical findings in a further 36 international-level players, a remarkably high overall prevalence of suprascapular nerve lesion of 33% (22 of 66 subjects) was found. All cases involved the side of the body with the player's smashing arm. These findings suggest that careful monitoring of suprascapular nerve function may be useful in high-performance volleyball players, as early diagnosis is essential to prevent more severe damage.