Age-related differences in glenohumeral internal rotation deficit, humeral retrotorsion angle, and posterior shoulder tightness in baseball players

BACKGROUND: Posterior shoulder tightness as demonstrated by glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) is a common contributor to many shoulder pathologies in overhead throwing athletes. PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess immediate effect of combining glenohumeral and scapulothoracic mobilization with stretching on improving internal rotation range of motion (ROM) in overhead athletes with GIRD METHODS: This study was a single-blind randomized controlled trial with parallel groups. The participants were 30 asymptomatic male volleyball players who had a loss of shoulder internal rotation ROM of 15 degrees or more on their dominant compared to their nondominant side. They were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: stretching only (n = 15) or stretching plus joint mobilization (n = 15). Participants in the stretching group performed cross-body stretches, and those in stretching plus mobilization group were treated with both cross-body stretching and mobilization techniques for the glenohumeral and scapulothoracic joints. Both groups received the intervention every other day for 1 week. Shoulder internal and external ROM were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Before the intervention, dominant-side deficits in internal rotation ROM compared to the nondominant side were 20.11±5.27 degrees in the stretching group and 21.87±8.06 degrees in the stretching plus mobilization group. After the intervention, internal rotation ROM deficit between the dominant and nondominant side decreased to 11.28±5.82 in the stretching group (P < 0.001) and 10.85±9.19 in the stretching plus mobilization group (P < 0.001). However, the between-group difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.389). External rotation ROM remained unchanged in both groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both interventions (stretching and stretching plus mobilization) can have the same beneficial effect in decreasing GIRD in asymptomatic overhead athletes.

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Immediate effects of two types of stretching techniques on glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and posterior shoulder tightness; a crossover randomised controlled trial.

10.35841/physical-therapy.1.1.19-24 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 01 (01) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Koya Mine

Keyword(s):

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Internal Rotation ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit ◽

Posterior Shoulder ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Posterior Shoulder Tightness

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Lack of a Relationship Between Glenohumeral External-Rotation Strength and Posterior Shoulder Tightness in Baseball Players

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.21.1.12 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 12-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Kevin G. Laudner ◽

Mike Moline ◽

Keith Meister

Keyword(s):

Internal Rotation ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

External Rotation ◽

Professional Baseball ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Shoulder Range Of Motion ◽

Posterior Shoulder ◽

Rotation Strength ◽

Posterior Shoulder Tightness ◽

Throwing Motion

Context:Posterior shoulder tightness has been associated with altered shoulder range of motion (ROM) and several pathologic entities in baseball players. This tightness is hypothesized to be the result of the cumulative stress placed on the posterior shoulder during the deceleration phase of the throwing motion. The role of the posterior shoulder static restraints is to absorb this load while the glenohumeral (GH) external rotators eccentrically decelerate the arm after ball release and therefore also help dissipate this force. As such, the authors hypothesized that if the GH external rotators are weak, an excessive amount of this deceleration force is placed on the static restraints, which may lead to subsequent tightness.Objective:To compare the relationship between GH external-rotation strength and posterior shoulder tightness as measured by GH horizontal-adduction and internal-rotation ROM.Design:Descriptive study.Setting:Laboratory.Participants:45 professional baseball players.Main Outcome Measures:GH external-rotation strength and GH horizontal-adduction and internalrotation ROM.Results:GH external-rotation strength showed no relationship with either GH horizontal-adduction ROM (r2 = .02, P = .40) or GH internal-rotation ROM (r2 = .002, P = .77).Conclusion:There is little to no relationship between GH external-rotation strength and posterior shoulder tightness in professional baseball players. The posterior static restraints of the shoulder may absorb a large majority of the deceleration forces during the throwing motion. Although strengthening of the posterior shoulder dynamic restraints should not be overlooked, routine stretching of the static restraints may be more beneficial for decreasing posterior shoulder tightness and the subsequent risks associated with this tightness, although future research is warranted.

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Soft Tissue Mobilization and Stretching for Shoulder in CrossFitters: A Randomized Pilot Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18020575 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 575

Author(s):

Marcos Jusdado-García ◽

Rubén Cuesta-Barriuso

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissue ◽

Internal Rotation ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Control Group ◽

Average Weight ◽

Average Height ◽

Shoulder Injury ◽

Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit ◽

Posterior Shoulder ◽

Soft Tissue Mobilization

Background. The shoulder in CrossFit should have a balance between mobility and stability. Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and posterior shoulder stiffness are risk factors for overhead shoulder injury. Objective. To determine the effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and horizontal adduction stretch in CrossFit practitioners’ shoulders. Methods: Twenty-one regular CrossFitters were allocated to experimental (stretching with isometric contraction and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization) or control groups (instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization). Each session lasted 5 min, 2 days a week, over a period of 4 weeks. Shoulder internal rotation and horizontal adduction (digital inclinometer), as well as posterior shoulder stretch perception (Park scale), were evaluated. Shapiro–Wilk test was used to analyze the distribution of the sample. Parametric Student’s t-test was used to obtain the intragroup differences. The inter- and intra-rater differences were calculated using a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results. Average age was 30.81 years (SD: 5.35), with an average height of 178 (SD: 7.93) cm and average weight of 82.69 (SD: 10.82) kg. Changes were found in the experimental group following intervention (p < 0.05), and when comparing baseline and follow-up assessments (p < 0.05) in all variables. Significant differences were found in the control group following intervention (p < 0.05), in right horizontal adduction and left internal rotation. When comparing the perception of internal rotation and horizontal adduction in both groups, significant differences were found. Conclusions. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization can improve shoulder horizontal adduction and internal rotation. An instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization technique yields the same results alone as those achieved in combination with post-isometric stretch with shoulder adduction.

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Effectiveness of Stretching on Posterior Shoulder Tightness and Glenohumeral Internal-Rotation Deficit: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2015-0172 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 294-305 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Koya Mine ◽

Takashi Nakayama ◽

Steve Milanese ◽

Karen Grimmer

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Evidence Synthesis ◽

Japanese Language ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Short Term ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit ◽

Posterior Shoulder ◽

Young Subjects ◽

Posterior Shoulder Tightness

Context:Posterior shoulder tightness (PST) and glenohumeral internal-rotation deficit (GIRD) can contribute to shoulder pain suffered by athletes engaged in overhead sporting activities. Stretching is a common intervention to resolve PST and GIRD, but it has weak evidence of effectiveness to date.Objective:This systematic review aimed to collect and synthesize effectiveness data from English- and Japanese-language randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating stretching interventions for PST and GIRD.Evidence Acquisition:7 English databases and 3 Japanese databases were searched from inception until December 5, 2015. Only English- and Japanese-language RCTs were considered. Risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Data were synthesized qualitatively.Evidence Synthesis:Eight English-language and 2 Japanese-language papers of low to high quality were included. There was moderate evidence for positive immediate and short-term effects of cross-body stretch on PST and GIRD in asymptomatic young subjects. Moderate evidence was found to suggest that active sleeper stretch might not be more effective than no intervention to improve PST and GIRD in the short term.Conclusions:Cross-body stretch can be effective to improve PST and GIRD in asymptomatic young subjects immediately or in the short term. Further study with methodological rigor is necessary to investigate the long-term effectiveness of stretching interventions on PST and GIRD in symptomatic patients.

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