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Function-Based Diagnosis and Physiotherapeutic Intervention for Shoulder Pain and Scapulothoracic Movement Control Deficits in Volleyball Players: A Case Report

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Overhead athletes require complete, unrestricted arm movements to perform their peak-level sports. As a result, the shoulders must maintain a careful balance between mobility and stability. Volleyball players frequently experience shoulder pain and mobility limitations due to the repetitive overhead motions involved in spiking and serving, which place significant strain on the shoulder joint. This case report examines the functional diagnosis and physiotherapeutic intervention for a 26-year-old male volleyball player suffering from right shoulder pain and limited mobility during overhead activities. The assessment revealed deficiencies in scapulothoracic movement, highlighting the crucial role of the scapular function in shoulder joint mobility. Physiotherapeutic intervention, which focused on restoring scapular function through a six-week conservative physiotherapy intervention, successfully relieved symptoms of shoulder pain and scapulothoracic movement control deficits. These findings underscore the importance of addressing scapular movement in a comprehensive shoulder rehabilitation program, especially for athletes with specialized shoulder requirements, such as volleyball players. The repetitive overhead motions involved in volleyball can lead to a high incidence of shoulder pain and scapulothoracic movement control deficits due to its multifactorial etiology. Function-based diagnosis and physiotherapeutic intervention in athletes emphasize the impact of the condition on sport-specific performance, involving a comprehensive evaluation of biomechanics, range of motion, strength, and scapular mobility and stability. This case study provides valuable insights to guide personalized, movement-based rehabilitation programs for overhead athletes, contributing to the growing body of literature on functional diagnosis and targeted interventions for shoulder disorders in sports persons.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.78952

Authors: Samiya Khan, Kalpana Zutshi, Aafreen LNU, Ashfaque Khan, Abdur Khan

Institutions: Jamia Hamdard, Integral University

Language: English

Topic: Shoulder Injury and Treatment

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4407500728