Can Functional Performance Assessments in Overhead Athletes With Shoulder Injury Assess the Ability of Return to Play (RTP)?

Background & Purpose: Shoulder injuries are commonly seen in overhead athletes due to the mechanism of the repetitive and high velocity movement. While the injury usually cost the lost of time in playing, making the decision of the time to return to play (RTP) is a critical issue that should be standardized and objective. However, current studies showed that the decision making of RTP is so complicated that there's lack of objective measurements especially for upper extremity injuries. So, investigating the usage of convenient and valid tools, functional performance assessments for assessing the ability to RTP is the main objective of this study.

Objective: There are 2 objectives for this study: (1) to investigate the difference between RTP group and non-RTP in overhead athletes with shoulder injury; (2) to investigate the responsiveness of the functional performance assessment in return to play for overhead athletes with shoulder injury. Methods: Overhead athletes with shoulder injury or surgery which leads to temporary leaving to the sport within will be recruited in this study. The shoulder joint range of motion (flexion, extension, external/internal rotation, and abduction), shoulder muscle strength (flexors, abductors and external/internal rotators), patient-reported outcome (KJOC and DASH questionnaire) and functional performance assessments (FMS, YBT-UQ, CKCUEST, USSP and TPUT) will be assessed at 6 months after the athlete was injured or received surgery, and at the time point if the athletes successfully complete at least one formal game or practice game (RTP group). If the athlete doesn't return within 12 months after injury or surgery, the assess will be done at the 12th month after injury or surgery. Significance and Contribution: This study is going to provide an objective measurement value of functional performance assessment in injured overhead athletes, determining whether the strength, endurance or power of the upper extremity is good enough to return to the sport that the athlete played before this injury. The result is also expected to have significant contribution in the area of sports medicine in return to play especially in overhead athletes, which has limited evidence providing specific criteria and objective measurement value previously.