Study of the Volume of Movement in the Shoulder Joint in Children Practicing Karate

Impaired shoulder joint function is associated with the prolonged use of repetitive movements during karate training. Maintaining good shoulder mobility is an important factor for children practicing martial arts. This study aims to investigate the range of motion in the shoulder joint in children practicing karate. Materials and Methods: Between March and June 2024, we worked with 20 children aged 8–12 years who practice Eastern martial arts at the sports karate club "Fighters" in Varna. For the most accurate results, we formed two groups of 10 children each. Participants in the control group performed the exercises assigned to them in the standard karate program, while children in the experimental group performed a specially designed set of exercises. All the children trained for a period of 4 months, training twice a week, with each session lasting one astronomical hour. Results: We assessed the condition of the children's shoulder joints at the beginning and end of the study period using the standard SFTR method. The results at the end of the study period showed that the range of motion in the shoulder joint in the experimental group of children had significantly improved. Compared with the control group, the shoulder range of motion showed only minimal improvement. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that practicing karate with the inclusion of special exercises for the upper limb leads to an improvement in the range of motion in the shoulder joint. The correct selection of physiotherapy methods and their regular application can not only improve shoulder joint function but also prevent injuries.