OBJECTIVES: Our research focused on the stability of the U18 kayak-canoe athletes glenohumeral joint, the dynamic stability of the upper limbs, the movement speed of the upper limbs, the status of the rotator cuff, and the strength of the core muscles.

METHODS: The research was at ‘Pécsi Kajak-Kenu Club’ in Pécs. It was conducted from November 2018 to March 2019. The design of the research is a quantitative, longitudinal prospective study. The exercise programme lasted 16 weeks, with a 45-minute-long session twice a week. The applied methods: shoulder pain assessment (VAS-scale), examination of the stability of the glenohumeral joint (measuring the range of motion, Apprehension test, Sulcus sign, Y-balance test), specific tests on the rotator cuff, assessment of the strength of the core muscles (plank test), speed of the upper limbs (Davies test).

RESULTS: In the sample (n=21; mean age: 14.33±2.01years; 58.67±14.92kg; 167.95±11.62cm) there was a significant (p<0.005) reduction in shoulder pain (pre:1.22±0.44; post:0.31±0.1). The Apprehension test became positive in 1 of 21 people at the beginning and end of the exercise program. In the case of Sulcus signal, 6 out of 21 people became positive at the beginning of the program, this value decreased at the end as only 1 out of 6 people became positive in the test. The range of motion did not result significant (p=0.31) improvement. The Y-balance test showed significant improvements the right median values of the first measurement were 91.33±15.13, the superolateral were 61.90±7.49, the inferolateral were 69.05±12.06. The mean values of the second measurement were 96.62±15.32 medially, superolateral 68.38±6.48, and inferolateral 74.38±11.28. The Plank test p<0.001 and the Davies test p<0.001 both showed significant improvement.

CONCLUSIONS: The program reduced the shoulder pain level of the young athletes, improved the stability of the glenohumeral joint, as well as the strength of the core muscles.