Association of arm pain with overhead throwing and upper extremity range of motion, strength, and throwing velocity in collegiate baseball players

Context:Numerous studies have documented reduced glenohumeral joint range of motion (ROM) of the dominant extremity among baseball players, which may be caused by throwing-related factors that also affect the radioulnar joint.Objective:To measure pronation and supination ROM in competitive baseball pitchers and position players.Participants:Asymptomatic professional and collegiate baseball pitchers (N = 59) and position players (N = 43).Outcome Measures:Bilateral radioulnar pronation and supination ROM.Results:Pitchers demonstrated significantly less pronation and total ROM in the throwing arm than the nondominant arm. The position players demonstrated significantly less total ROM in the throwing arm than the nondominant arm.Conclusions:The reported normative values may provide useful standards for interpretation of radioulnar ROM measured in both asymptomatic and symptomatic baseball players.

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Upper extremity range of motion and isokinetic strength of the internal and external shoulder rotators in major league baseball players

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/036354658801600604 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 577-585 ◽

Cited By ~ 216

Author(s):

Larry P. Brown ◽

Sandra L. Niehues ◽

Andrew Harrah ◽

Patricia Yavorsky ◽

H. Paul Hirshman

Keyword(s):

Range Of Motion ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Major League Baseball ◽

Isokinetic Strength ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Major League

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Relationship Between Glenohumeral and Thoracolumbar Rotation Range of Motion in Baseball Players

International Journal of Athletic Therapy & Training ◽

10.1123/ijatt.2019-0025 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 21-26

Author(s):

Jeffrey G. Williams ◽

Lauryn Darnall ◽

Conrad Schumann

Keyword(s):

Range Of Motion ◽

Internal Rotation ◽

External Rotation ◽

Future Research ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Collegiate Baseball ◽

The Relationship

Baseball players have demonstrated greater thoracolumbar rotation (TLR) range of motion (ROM) toward their nonthrowing arm sides. This imbalance is thought to be compensatory to ROM deficiencies at the throwing arm’s shoulder. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between TLR and glenohumeral (GH) ROM measures (internal rotation, external rotation, horizontal adduction) among collegiate baseball players. Findings demonstrated limited and no relationships between TLR and GH ROM. Future research should advance these findings by examining symptomatic participants and hip ROM as additional variables. Doing so may enhance clinicians’ abilities to comprehensively predict, prevent, detect, and treat movement deficiencies, and subsequent injuries, suffered by competitive baseball players.

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Persistent pain and upper extremity function in former collegiate baseball players: an exploratory analysis

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage ◽

10.1016/j.joca.2020.02.613 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

pp. S393-S394

Author(s):

G.S. Bullock ◽

K.F. Nicholson ◽

B.R. Waterman ◽

E. Niesen ◽

P. Salamh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Upper Extremity ◽

Persistent Pain ◽

Exploratory Analysis ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Extremity Function ◽

Collegiate Baseball ◽

Upper Extremity Function

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Dominant-Limb Range-of-Motion and Humeral-Retrotorsion Adaptation in Collegiate Baseball and Softball Position Players

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-49.3.23 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 49 (4) ◽

pp. 507-513 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Elizabeth E. Hibberd ◽

Sakiko Oyama ◽

Justin Tatman ◽

Joseph B. Myers

Keyword(s):

Range Of Motion ◽

Internal Rotation ◽

Athletic Training ◽

External Rotation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit ◽

Total Range ◽

Collegiate Baseball

Context: Biomechanically, the motions used by baseball and softball pitchers differ greatly; however, the throwing motions of position players in both sports are strikingly similar. Although the adaptations to the dominant limb from overhead throwing have been well documented in baseball athletes, these adaptations have not been clearly identified in softball players. This information is important in order to develop and implement injury-prevention programs specific to decreasing the risk of upper extremity injury in softball athletes. Objective: To compare range-of-motion and humeral-retrotorsion characteristics of collegiate baseball and softball position players and of baseball and softball players to sex-matched controls. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Research laboratories and athletic training rooms at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Patients or Other Participants: Fifty-three collegiate baseball players, 35 collegiate softball players, 25 male controls (nonoverhead athletes), and 19 female controls (nonoverhead athletes). Intervention(s): Range of motion and humeral retrotorsion were measured using a digital inclinometer and diagnostic ultrasound. Main Outcome Measure(s): Glenohumeral internal-rotation deficit, external-rotation gain, total glenohumeral range of motion, and humeral retrotorsion. Results: Baseball players had greater glenohumeral internal-rotation deficit, total–range-of-motion, and humeral-retrotorsion difference than softball players and male controls. There were no differences between glenohumeral internal-rotation deficit, total–range-of-motion, and humeral-retrotorsion difference in softball players and female controls. Conclusions: Few differences were evident between softball players and female control participants, although range-of-motion and humeral-retrotorsion adaptations were significantly different than baseball players. The throwing motions are similar between softball and baseball, but the athletes adapt to the demands of the sport differently; thus, stretching/strengthening programs designed for baseball may not be the most effective programs for softball athletes.

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Effects of Hip Abduction Fatigue on Trunk and Shoulder Kinematics During Throwing and Passive Hip Rotational Range of Motion

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2017-0182 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 304-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gretchen D. Oliver ◽

Jessica K. Washington ◽

Sarah S. Gascon ◽

Hillary A. Plummer ◽

Rafael F. Escamilla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Range Of Motion ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

External Rotation ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Fatigue Protocol ◽

Hip Abduction ◽

Hip Abductor ◽

Overhead Throwing ◽

Shoulder Kinematics

Context:Hip abductor musculature contributes to the stability of the pelvis, which is needed for efficient energy transfer from the lower-extremity to the upper-extremity during overhead throwing.Objective:The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a bilateral hip abduction fatigue protocol on overhead-throwing kinematics and passive hip range of motion.Design:Prospective cohort study.Setting:Controlled laboratory setting.Participants:A convenience sample of 19 collegiate female softball players (20.6 [1.9] y; 169.3 [9.7] cm; 73.2 [11.2] kg).Main Outcome Measures:Repeated hip abduction to fatigue was performed on an isokinetic dynamometer for 3 consecutive days. Trunk and shoulder kinematics during throwing and hip internal and external rotation range of motion were analyzed prior to fatigue on day 1 (prefatigue) and following fatigue on day 3 (postfatigue).Results:Repeated-measures analysis of variances revealed no statistically significant differences in trunk and shoulder kinematics prefatigue and postfatigue. A statistically significant time × side × direction interaction (F2,36 = 5.462,P = .02,) was observed in hip passive range of motion. A decrease in throwing-side hip internal rotation prefatigue to postfatigue (mean difference = −2.284; 95% confidence interval, −4.302 to −0.266;P = .03) was observed.Conclusions:The hip abductor fatigue protocol used in this study did not significantly alter trunk and upper-extremity throwing kinematics. The lack of changes may indicate that fatigue of the hip abductors does not contribute to trunk and shoulder kinematics during throwing or the protocol may not have been sport-specific enough to alter kinematics.

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EFFECTS OF HIGH VOLUME UPPER EXTREMITY PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON THROWING VELOCITY AND FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH RATIOS OF THE SHOULDER ROTATORS IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL PLAYERS

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research ◽

10.1519/00124278-200702000-00038 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 208-215 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

ANDREW B. CARTER ◽

THOMAS W. KAMINSKI ◽

AL T. DOUEX JR ◽

CHRISTOPHER A. KNIGHT ◽

JAMES G. RICHARDS

Keyword(s):

Upper Extremity ◽

High Volume ◽

Plyometric Training ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Collegiate Baseball

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Supraspinatus Tendon Changes and Glenohumeral Range of Motion in College Baseball Players

International Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1055/a-1524-2038 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tomonobu Ishigaki ◽

Motoki Hirokawa ◽

Yuya Ezawa ◽

Masanori Yamanaka

Keyword(s):

Range Of Motion ◽

Internal Rotation ◽

External Rotation ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Supraspinatus Tendon ◽

Shoulder Injuries ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Collegiate Baseball ◽

Tendon Thickness ◽

College Baseball

AbstractBaseball players commonly show altered glenohumeral range of motion during internal rotation, external rotation, total rotation, and horizontal adduction. These altered ranges of motion appear to be associated with throwing shoulder injuries, which frequently involve the supraspinatus tendons; thus, we aimed to examine the relationship between altered glenohumeral range of motion and supraspinatus tendon changes in collegiate baseball players. To investigate this association using the Pearson correlation coefficient, we measured glenohumeral internal rotation, external rotation, total rotation, and horizontal adduction ranges of motion and supraspinatus tendon thickness in 22 college baseball players. Consequently, there was a significant relationship between increase in supraspinatus tendon thickness and greater deficit of internal rotation (r=–0.520, P=0.013). Increased supraspinatus tendon thickness tended to be associated with greater external rotation gain (r=0.394, P=0.073). No other range of motion had any relationship with supraspinatus tendon changes. These results might indicate that restricted glenohumeral internal rotation and excessive gain in external rotation increase the risk of supraspinatus tendon abnormalities in baseball players.

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