Objectives: Aim of the study was to assess the shoulder stability, active range of movement and scapular asymmetry of women handball players and to create a scapular stabilization program to increase the function of the scapulothoracal connection.

Methods: The sample were consisted of 121 handball players who filled out the Western Ontario Stability Index (WOSI) and from the sample 39 girls (average age of 11.45 years) participated in our longitudinal study. The intervention group (IG: n=19) took part in the extra 12-week exercise program and the control group (CG: n=20) only took part in the normal handball training sessions. The assessments were conducted from September to December 2019 with Kozármisleny SE handball team in Hungary. Scapular stability was assessed by using special tests: Davies-, Lennie-, Lateral scapular slide-, Push-up-, Modified Matthias test.

Results: The WOSI questionnaire showed that 79.21% of the sample had some shoulder dysfunction. According our tests 64% of the players had scapular asymmetry. The scapula-spine distance (Push-up Test) significantly decreased (p<0.001) in IG from the beginning (left: 9,35±2,05; right: 9,18±2,33) to the end of the program (left: 7.86±1.35; right: 7.54±1.21). There was a significant difference (p=0.036) between the groups on the Davis test before the training program (IG: 30.79±4.78; CG: 27.05±5.74) and the difference was getting bigger after the program (IG: 41,68±7,14; CG: 27±5,73; p<0.001). Modified Matthias Test showed 16 players had weak shoulder girdle muscles in the IG before- and only 6 after the program, while 20 weakness were detected before– and after in CG. The pathological external rotation was decreased significantly (p<0.001) in IG in every position on both sides, while the internal rotation increased significantly on the right (pre:52.4±10.07; post:59,4±7,94; p=0,002) and on the left (pre:57.26±10.67; post:62.05±11.85; p=0.066) side.

Conclusions: Our preventive exercise program improves shoulder stability and normalize the scapular symmetry.