Effects of a Motion-Triggered Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Strength Program on Shoulder Strength and Throwing Velocity in Elite Handball Players
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Clinical Examination
2.2. Handball Throwing Velocity
2.3. Isometric HHD ER and IR Maximal Shoulder Strength
2.4. Motion-Triggered NMES Shoulder Strengthening Program
2.5. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Handball Throwing Velocity
3.2. Isometric HHD ER and IR Maximal Shoulder Strength
4. Discussion
Limitations
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| NMES | Neuromuscular electrical stimulation |
| ER | External Rotation |
| FPSI | Functional posterior shoulder instability |
| HHD | Hand-held dynamometer |
| IR | Internal rotation |
| ROM | Range of motion |
| RERST | Repetitive external rotation stress test |
| RIRST | Repetitive internal rotation stress test |
| SD | Standard deviation |
| BMI | Body mass index |
| Kg | Kilogram |
| m | Meter |
| y | Years |
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| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sets × repetitions | 3 × 20 | 3 × 20 | 3 × 20 |
| Exercise 1 | Arm supported row | Front raises in 45° | Front raises (thumbs up) |
| Exercise 2 | Parallel resistance front raises | Crossbody resistance band raises | Cross body ‘tennis forhand’ swing |
| Exercise 3 | Rear dealt fly | Single arm resistance band row | Underhand ‘volleyball serve‘ swing |
| NMES Group (n = 7) | Control Group (n = 7) | p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (y) | 19.7 ± 2.3 (18–24) | 19.6 ± 0.8 (19–21) | 0.878 |
| Height (m) | 1.85 ± 0.06 (1.77–1.93) | 1.86 ± 0.04 (1.81–1.91) | 0.677 |
| Weight (kg) | 84.0 ± 17.5 (64.0–120.0) | 91.4 ± 10.6 (82.0–120.0) | 0.356 |
| BMI | 21.1 ± 10.1 (20.4–32.2) | 26.4 ± 2.8 (23.5–32.0) | 0.210 |
| Arm span (m) | 1.91 ± 6.4 (1.85–2.02) | 1.90 ± 5.6 (1.82–1.96) | 0.879 |
| NMES Group (n = 6 §) | Control Group (n = 7) | Difference | p-Value 1 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endurance throwing velocity (km × h−1) | Baseline | 87.6 ± 4.9 | 92.1 ± 3.7 | 4.4 ± 2.4 | 0.089 |
| 6-week follow-up | 90.5 ± 6.8 | 93.0 ± 4.5 | 2.5 ± 3.2 | 0.448 | |
| Difference | 2.9 ± 2.8 | 0.9 ± 2.9 | 2.0 ± 1.6 | 0.244 | |
| p-value 2 | 0.056 | 0.440 | - | - | |
| Improved, n (%) | 6 (100%) | 2 (29%) | - | 0.004 | |
| Maximum throwing velocity (km × h−1) | Baseline | 89.3 ± 6.2 | 92.4 ± 3.2 | 3.1 ± 2.7 | 0.289 |
| 6-week follow-up | 92.8 ± 7.5 | 97.5 ± 4.5 | 4.7 ± 3.4 | 0.190 | |
| Difference | 3.6 ± 1.7 | 5.1 ± 4.0 | 1.6 ± 1.7 | 0.387 | |
| p-value 2 | 0.004 | 0.014 | - | - | |
| Improved, n (%) | 6 (100%) | 7 (100%) | - | 0.899 |
| NMES Group (n = 7) | Control Group (n = 7) | Difference | p-Value 1 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER strength at 90° (kg) | Baseline | 18.2 ± 3.7 | 22.9 ± 3.3 | 4.7 ± 1.9 | 0.029 |
| Follow-up | 19.6 ± 3.7 | 22.6 ± 3.5 | 3.0 ± 1.9 | 0.142 | |
| Difference | 1.4 ± 1.1 | −0.2 ± 1.8 | 1.6 ± 0.8 | 0.061 | |
| p-value 2 | 0.016 | 0.740 | - | - | |
| Improved, n (%) | 7 (100%) | 3 (43%) | - | 0.015 | |
| IR strength at 90° (kg) | Baseline | 18.7 ± 5.5 | 21.2 ± 6.0 | 2.5 ± 3.1 | 0.437 |
| Follow-up | 19.9 ± 4.1 | 22.4 ± 1.7 | 2.5 ± 2.1 | 0.249 | |
| Difference | 1.17 ± 5.3 | 1.2 ± 4.3 | 0.04 ± 2.6 | 0.986 | |
| p-value 2 | 0.577 | 0.478 | - | - | |
| Improved, n (%) | 4 (57%) | 4 (57%) | - | p > 0.999 |
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© 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
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Conner-Rilk, S.; Tomanek, F.M.; Laky, B.; Heuberer, P.R.; Schanda, J.E.; Lanz, U. Effects of a Motion-Triggered Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Strength Program on Shoulder Strength and Throwing Velocity in Elite Handball Players. J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15, 1420. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15041420
Conner-Rilk S, Tomanek FM, Laky B, Heuberer PR, Schanda JE, Lanz U. Effects of a Motion-Triggered Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Strength Program on Shoulder Strength and Throwing Velocity in Elite Handball Players. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2026; 15(4):1420. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15041420
Chicago/Turabian StyleConner-Rilk, Sebastian, Fabian M. Tomanek, Brenda Laky, Philipp R. Heuberer, Jakob E. Schanda, and Ulrich Lanz. 2026. "Effects of a Motion-Triggered Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Strength Program on Shoulder Strength and Throwing Velocity in Elite Handball Players" Journal of Clinical Medicine 15, no. 4: 1420. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15041420
APA StyleConner-Rilk, S., Tomanek, F. M., Laky, B., Heuberer, P. R., Schanda, J. E., & Lanz, U. (2026). Effects of a Motion-Triggered Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Strength Program on Shoulder Strength and Throwing Velocity in Elite Handball Players. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 15(4), 1420. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15041420

