Common Tips for IMEs: Measuring Hip Range of Motion

Context Inadequate hip range of motion (ROM) and isometric strength (ISO) may interfere with energy flow through the kinetic chain and result in increased injury susceptibility. Objective To examine the relationship of hip ROM and ISO with energy flow through the trunk and pitching-arm segments during the windmill softball pitch in youth athletes. A subsequent purpose was to examine the relationship between energy flow and pitch speed. Design Descriptive laboratory study. Setting University research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants A sample of 29 youth softball pitchers (age = 11.2 ± 1.3 years, height = 155.0 ± 10.4 cm, mass = 53.2 ± 12.6 kg). Main Outcome Measure(s) Bilateral hip internal-rotation and external-rotation (ER) ROM and ISO were measured. Net energy outflow and peak rates of energy outflow from the distal ends of the trunk, humerus, and forearm were calculated for the acceleration phase of the windmill softball pitch, and pitch speed was measured. Results Regression analysis revealed an effect of drive-hip ER ISO on the net energy flow out of the distal ends of the trunk (P = .045) and humerus (P = .002). Specifically, increased drive-hip ER ISO was associated with increased net energy outflow from the trunk to the humerus and from the humerus to the forearm. No significant effects of hip ROM or other hip ISO measures were observed. Additionally, pitchers who achieved higher peak rates of distal outflow tended to achieve higher pitch speeds. Conclusions An association was present between drive-hip ER ISO and the net energy flow out of the distal ends of the trunk and humerus during the acceleration phase of the windmill softball pitch, emphasizing the importance of hip and lower body strength in executing the whole-body windmill pitch. Overall, energy-flow analysis is an interesting new way to analyze pitching mechanics and will aid in furthering our understanding of performance and injury risk in windmill softball pitching.

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Passive Hip Range-of-Motion Values Across Sex and Sport

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-426-16 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (6) ◽

pp. 560-567 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jennifer A. Hogg ◽

Randy J. Schmitz ◽

Anh-Dung Nguyen ◽

Sandra J. Shultz

Keyword(s):

Range Of Motion ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

External Rotation ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Knee Valgus ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Hip Range Of Motion ◽

Cross Country

Context: Greater passive hip range of motion (ROM) has been associated with greater dynamic knee valgus and thus the potential for increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Normative data for passive hip ROM by sex are lacking. Objective: To establish and compare passive hip ROM values by sex and sport and to quantify side-to-side differences in internal-rotation ROM (ROMIR), external-rotation ROM (ROMER), and total ROM (ROMTOT). Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Station-based, preparticipation screening. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 339 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletes, consisting of 168 women (age = 19.2 ± 1.2 years, height = 169.0 ± 7.2 cm, mass = 65.3 ± 10.2 kg) and 171 men (age = 19.4 ± 1.3 years, height = 200.0 ± 8.6 cm, mass = 78.4 ± 12.0 kg) in 6 sports screened over 3 years: soccer (58 women, 67 men), tennis (20 women, 22 men), basketball (28 women, 22 men), softball or baseball (38 women, 31 men), cross-country (18 women, 19 men), and golf (6 women, 10 men). Main Outcome Measure(s): Passive hip ROM was measured with the athlete lying prone with the hip abducted to 20° to 30° and knee flexed to 90°. The leg was passively internally and externally rotated until the point of sacral movement. Three measures were averaged for each direction and leg and used for analysis. We compared ROMIR, ROMER, ROMTOT (ROMTOT = ROMIR + ROMER), and relative ROM (ROMREL = ROMIR − ROMER) between sexes and among sports using separate 2 × 6 repeated-measures analyses of variance. Results: Women had greater ROMIR (38.1° ± 8.2° versus 28.6° ± 8.4°; F1,327 = 91.74, P < .001), ROMTOT (72.1° ± 10.6° versus 64.4° ± 10.1°; F1,327 = 33.47, P < .001), and ROMREL (1.5° ± 16.0° versus −7.6° ± 16.5°; F1,327 = 37.05, P < .001) than men but similar ROMER (34.0° ± 12.2° versus 35.8° ± 11.5°; F1,327 = 1.65, P = .20) to men. Cross-country athletes exhibited greater ROMIR (37.0° ± 9.3° versus 30.9° ± 9.4° to 33.3° ± 9.5°; P = .001) and ROMREL (5.9° ± 18.3° versus −9.6° ± 16.9° to −2.7° ± 17.3°; P = .001) and less ROMER (25.7° ± 7.5° versus 35.0° ± 13.0° to 40.2° ± 12.0°; P < .001) than basketball, soccer, softball or baseball, and tennis athletes. They also displayed less ROMTOT (62.7° ± 8.1° versus 70.0° ± 9.1° to 72.9° ± 11.9°; P < .001) than basketball, softball or baseball, and tennis athletes. Conclusions: Women had greater ROMIR than men, resulting in greater ROMTOT and ROMREL. Researchers should examine the extent to which this greater bias toward ROMIR may explain women's greater tendency for dynamic knee valgus. With the exception of cross-country, ROM values were similar across sports. The clinical implications of these aberrant cross-country values require further study.

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Relationship between the hip range of motion and functional motor system movement patterns in football players

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness ◽

10.23736/s0022-4707.21.12679-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gabriela SIWECKA ◽

Ewa WODKA-NATKANIEC ◽

Łukasz NIEDŹWIEDZKI ◽

Anna ŚWITOŃ ◽

Tadeusz NIEDŹWIEDZKI

Keyword(s):

Range Of Motion ◽

Motor System ◽

Movement Patterns ◽

Football Players ◽

Hip Range Of Motion ◽

System Movement

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Effects of Hip Range of Motion and Isometric Strength on Energy Flow during Windmill Softball Pitching

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/145-20 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gretchen D. Oliver ◽

Kyle Wasserberger ◽

Anne de Swart ◽

Kenzie Friesen ◽

Jessica Downs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Range Of Motion ◽

Energy Flow ◽

External Rotation ◽

Isometric Strength ◽

Whole Body ◽

Net Energy ◽

Acceleration Phase ◽

Hip Range Of Motion ◽

Flow Through ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Context:Inadequate hip range of motion (ROM) and isometric strength (ISO) may interfere with energy flow through the kinetic chain and result in increased injury susceptibility. Objective:To examine the relationship of hip ROM and ISO with energy flow through the trunk and pitching arm segments during the windmill softball pitch in youth athletes. A subsequent purpose was to examine the relationship between energy flow and pitch speed. Design:Descriptive laboratory study. Setting:University research laboratory. Participants:A sample of 29 youth softball pitchers (11.2±1.3 yrs.; 155.0±10.4 cm; 53.2±12.6 kg). Main Outcome Measure(s):Bilateral hip internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) ROM and ISO were measured. Net energy outflow and peak rates of energy outflow from the distal ends of the trunk, humerus, and forearm were calculated for the acceleration phase of the windmill softball pitch, and pitch speed was measured. Results:Regression analysis revealed a significant effect of drive hip ER ISO on the net energy flow out of the distal ends of the trunk (p=0.045) and humerus (p=0.002). Specifically, increased drive hip ER ISO was associated with increased net energy outflow from the trunk to the humerus and from the humerus to the forearm. No significant effects of hip ROM or other hip ISO measures were observed. Additionally, pitchers who achieved higher peak rates of distal outflow tended to also achieve higher pitch speeds. Conclusions:There is an association between drive hip ER ISO and the net energy flow out of the distal ends of the trunk and humerus during the acceleration phase of the windmill softball pitch, emphasizing the importance of hip and lower body strength in the execution of the whole-body windmill pitch. Overall, energy flow analysis is an interesting new way to analyze pitching mechanics and will aid in further understanding of performance and injury risk in windmill softball pitching.

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