Profiling Shoulder Strength in Youth Surfers: Implications for Injury Prevention and Performance Enhancement

The scapular region has the highest incidence of acute injuries in surfing. However, little is known about the shoulder strength profile in surfers. The aim of this research was to establish the profile of internal and external rotation strength in a group of youth surfing athletes. Methods: Isometric shoulder internal and external rotation strength was measured using a portable dynamometer in 41 (19 boys e 22 girls) youth surfing athletes (13.3 ± 2.1 years, 49.3 ± 9.8 kg, and 157.4 ± 9.5 cm). Regardless of gender, no significant differences were found between shoulder internal and external rotation strength. However, internal rotation strength was bilateral greater than external rotation strength. When comparing boys and girls, statistically significant differences were only found for the left-arm internal rotation strength when adjusted for body mass. Boys exhibited more strength than girls in all situations. No differences were observed based on the surfer's stance. The data from this research provides valuable information for coaches and trainers working with young surfers, allowing a deeper understanding of the specific shoulder strength profile, for a more effective development of training programs.