Bilateral glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) in elite gymnasts.

Introduction: The "Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit (GIRD)" is known as the difference in internal rotation range of motion (IRRM) between the dominant and non-dominant shoulder of overhead athletes as a result of asymmetric loading. As in contrast loading pattern in gymnastics are quite symmetric and structural changes often occur bilaterally, the question arises if GIRD might develop bilaterally in gymnasts as one source of common bilateral shoulder pathologies and to search for underlying structural adaptations.

Materials And Methods: A group of 35 elite gymnasts (8-24 years) were recruited from a local Olympic Training Centre and compared to a paired cohort of 28 non-overhead athletes.