The Relationship Between Shoulder Mobility and Upper Body Mass on 2-RM Bench Press in Division I Collegiate Football Players
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Health and Human Performance
Date of Award
5-22-2024
Abstract
Strength may come at the cost of mobility as recent studies have reported an inverse relationship between shoulder range of motion (ROM) and strength, with an increase in strength causing a decrease in ROM (Shitara et al., 2022). The purpose of this study was to determine if upper body muscle mass or shoulder mobility are associated with two-repetition max (2-RM) bench press performance in collegiate football players. Data from 80 Division I football players (20.5 ± 1.4 yrs., 182.8 ± 6.9 cm, 100.9 ± 22.7 kg) who participated in Spring Football 2023 were examined. Athletes were asked to self-report their estimated 2-RM bench press, underwent a whole body dual x-ray absorptiometry scan (DEXA, Hologic W), and DARI marker-less motion capture analysis (DARI Motion, Inc.). Upper body muscle mass was computed with the DEXA variables left and right arm lean mass and trunk lean mass. ROM was assessed using shoulder abduction, horizontal abduction, flexion and extension, and internal and external rotation. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlations, a one-way repeated measures Anova, and Linear Regression for ROM to 2-RM bench press and upper body muscle mass to 2-RM using IBM SPSS 29 (SPSS, Chicago, IL). All correlations between ROM variables to 2-RM bench press performance were non-significant and very weak to weak (ranging from r = -0.002 to 0.165). No significant interactive effect was found when analyzing ROM to 2-RM in the Anova. However, when analyzing the Anova main effect, external rotation (p < 0.001) and extension (p = 0.001) had a significant difference when comparing each variable's left and right sides. Upper body muscle mass (44.0 ± 6.2 kg) showed a positive correlation with 2-RM (270 ± 48 lbs.) bench press performance (r = 0.644, p < 0.001). As recent studies have suggested, ROM and strength, represented by 2-RM bench press, have a weak relationship. Likewise, asymmetrical differences exist between external rotation and extension left and right ROM. Nonetheless, strength is a function of muscle mass as suggested by the strong positive correlation between upper body muscle mass with 2-RM bench press.
Advisor
Vipa Bernhardt
Subject Categories
Kinesiology | Life Sciences
Recommended Citation
Cavazos, Raquel J., "The Relationship Between Shoulder Mobility and Upper Body Mass on 2-RM Bench Press in Division I Collegiate Football Players" (2024). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 1179.
https://digitalcommons.tamuc.edu/etd/1179
