Is there a correlation between shoulder muscle strength and functional tests performance of upper limbs in young volleyball athletes?

Volleyball, a widely practiced overhead sport, is strongly associated with a high incidence of shoulder injuries, often resulting from functional and muscular deficits. This study investigated the relationship between isometric strength of the shoulder rotators and upper limb functional performance in young male volleyball athletes. A cross-sectional, retrospective, and comparative design was employed; involving 33 athletes aged 13-19 years from two teams in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Functional performance was measured with the Seated Medicine Ball Throw Test (SMBT) and the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST). Muscle strength was assessed through isometric peak torque of internal and external rotators of both limbs using a manual dynamometer. Pearson’s correlation analysis was conducted, with significance set at p < 0.05. Isometric peak torque of shoulder rotators in both dominant and nondominant limbs demonstrated significant positive correlations (r=0.49-0.70; p