Ultrasound-Based Morphological and Functional Assessment in Male CrossFit Athletes with Unilateral Subacromial Shoulder Pain: An Observational Study
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: CrossFit is a discipline involving a wide range of overhead movements performed at high intensity and under accumulated fatigue that predispose to a high risk of shoulder complex injuries. This study aimed to compare ultrasonographic findings between sym...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/7/1304 |
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| author | Fabien Guerineau Ann Cools Jaime Almazán-Polo María Dolores Sosa-Reina Vanesa Abuín-Porras Cristian Baroa-Fernández Pablo García-Ginés Ana Román-Franganillo Ángel González-de-la-Flor |
| author_facet | Fabien Guerineau Ann Cools Jaime Almazán-Polo María Dolores Sosa-Reina Vanesa Abuín-Porras Cristian Baroa-Fernández Pablo García-Ginés Ana Román-Franganillo Ángel González-de-la-Flor |
| author_sort | Fabien Guerineau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: CrossFit is a discipline involving a wide range of overhead movements performed at high intensity and under accumulated fatigue that predispose to a high risk of shoulder complex injuries. This study aimed to compare ultrasonographic findings between symptomatic and asymptomatic shoulders in CrossFit athletes. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A cross-sectional study was conducted to compare ultrasound parameters between the painful and non-painful shoulders in CrossFit athletes with unilateral subacromial shoulder pain. Assessed variables included subacromial subdeltoid bursa thickness, supraspinatus tendon thickness, the acromiohumeral distance, the coracoacromial ligament distance, the bicipital groove angle, cross-sectional area of the biceps brachii longus head tendon, as well as the serratus anterior and lower trapezius muscle thickness. <i>Results</i>: Twenty male CrossFit athletes (forty shoulders) with an average age of 25.70 ± 4.03 years participated in the study. A statistically significant increase was observed (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the subacromial subdeltoid bursa thickness in the painful shoulder compared to the asymptomatic side. All other ultrasound parameters did not show statistically significant differences. <i>Conclusions</i>: Only subacromial subdeltoid bursa thickness differed significantly between sides. This isolated finding may not fully explain shoulder pain, which cannot be solely attributed to morphological changes. Further research is needed to determine the relationship between shoulder pain and ultrasound features in CrossFit athletes, as well as the role of ultrasound in predicting structural changes in pain conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2d57eb0bced84df9adf98ccbc44b3435 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj-art-2d57eb0bced84df9adf98ccbc44b34352025-08-20T03:07:55ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-07-01617130410.3390/medicina61071304Ultrasound-Based Morphological and Functional Assessment in Male CrossFit Athletes with Unilateral Subacromial Shoulder Pain: An Observational StudyFabien Guerineau0Ann Cools1Jaime Almazán-Polo2María Dolores Sosa-Reina3Vanesa Abuín-Porras4Cristian Baroa-Fernández5Pablo García-Ginés6Ana Román-Franganillo7Ángel González-de-la-Flor8Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sport Sciences, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, 28670 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus UZ Gent, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, Entrance 46, 9000 Gent, BelgiumFaculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sport Sciences, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, 28670 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sport Sciences, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, 28670 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sport Sciences, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, 28670 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sport Sciences, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, 28670 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sport Sciences, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, 28670 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sport Sciences, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, 28670 Madrid, Spain<i>Background and Objectives</i>: CrossFit is a discipline involving a wide range of overhead movements performed at high intensity and under accumulated fatigue that predispose to a high risk of shoulder complex injuries. This study aimed to compare ultrasonographic findings between symptomatic and asymptomatic shoulders in CrossFit athletes. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A cross-sectional study was conducted to compare ultrasound parameters between the painful and non-painful shoulders in CrossFit athletes with unilateral subacromial shoulder pain. Assessed variables included subacromial subdeltoid bursa thickness, supraspinatus tendon thickness, the acromiohumeral distance, the coracoacromial ligament distance, the bicipital groove angle, cross-sectional area of the biceps brachii longus head tendon, as well as the serratus anterior and lower trapezius muscle thickness. <i>Results</i>: Twenty male CrossFit athletes (forty shoulders) with an average age of 25.70 ± 4.03 years participated in the study. A statistically significant increase was observed (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the subacromial subdeltoid bursa thickness in the painful shoulder compared to the asymptomatic side. All other ultrasound parameters did not show statistically significant differences. <i>Conclusions</i>: Only subacromial subdeltoid bursa thickness differed significantly between sides. This isolated finding may not fully explain shoulder pain, which cannot be solely attributed to morphological changes. Further research is needed to determine the relationship between shoulder pain and ultrasound features in CrossFit athletes, as well as the role of ultrasound in predicting structural changes in pain conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/7/1304shoulder impingement syndromesubacromial shoulder syndromeshoulder painoverhead athletesultrasound |
| spellingShingle | Fabien Guerineau Ann Cools Jaime Almazán-Polo María Dolores Sosa-Reina Vanesa Abuín-Porras Cristian Baroa-Fernández Pablo García-Ginés Ana Román-Franganillo Ángel González-de-la-Flor Ultrasound-Based Morphological and Functional Assessment in Male CrossFit Athletes with Unilateral Subacromial Shoulder Pain: An Observational Study Medicina shoulder impingement syndrome subacromial shoulder syndrome shoulder pain overhead athletes ultrasound |
| title | Ultrasound-Based Morphological and Functional Assessment in Male CrossFit Athletes with Unilateral Subacromial Shoulder Pain: An Observational Study |
| title_full | Ultrasound-Based Morphological and Functional Assessment in Male CrossFit Athletes with Unilateral Subacromial Shoulder Pain: An Observational Study |
| title_fullStr | Ultrasound-Based Morphological and Functional Assessment in Male CrossFit Athletes with Unilateral Subacromial Shoulder Pain: An Observational Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ultrasound-Based Morphological and Functional Assessment in Male CrossFit Athletes with Unilateral Subacromial Shoulder Pain: An Observational Study |
| title_short | Ultrasound-Based Morphological and Functional Assessment in Male CrossFit Athletes with Unilateral Subacromial Shoulder Pain: An Observational Study |
| title_sort | ultrasound based morphological and functional assessment in male crossfit athletes with unilateral subacromial shoulder pain an observational study |
| topic | shoulder impingement syndrome subacromial shoulder syndrome shoulder pain overhead athletes ultrasound |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/7/1304 |
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