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

2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 507-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth E. Hibberd ◽  
Sakiko Oyama ◽  
Justin Tatman ◽  
Joseph B. Myers

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.

Author(s):  
Jonas Schmalzl ◽  
Helen Walter ◽  
Wolfram Rothfischer ◽  
Sören Blaich ◽  
Christian Gerhardt ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Adaptations in glenohumeral range of motion may affect overhead athletes and lead to shoulder pathologies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) and postero-superior impingement among male handball and volleyball players and the relationship between these pathologies and training level (amateur vs. professional), position (attack vs. no attack), experience (> 5 years vs. < 5 years) and sports. METHODS: Sixty-seven handball players and 67 volleyball players with a mean age of 25 [± 5] years were included. The range of motion including external and internal rotation in 90∘ abduction of the dominant and non-dominant shoulder was measured of each examined athlete. Visual analogue scale, disabilities of the shoulder and hand score, constant score and subjective shoulder value were recorded. The athletes were examined for postero-superior impingement and abduction force was measured with an isokinetic dynamometer. RESULTS: Internal rotation was significantly lower and external rotation was significantly greater in the dominant arm for both sports. 72% presented with GIRD. GIRD was more prevalent in athletes active for > 5 years (odds ratio (OR) 3), in those training > 3 times per week (OR 1.4) and in handball players (OR 2.7). 24% presented with postero-superior impingement. Players active for > 5 years (OR 1.22), professionals (OR 1.14), volleyball players (OR 1.19), offensive players (OR 2.2) and athletes with GIRD > 10∘ (OR 1.5) showed a higher prevalence of postero-superior impingement. CONCLUSION: GIRD is a common phenomenon in handball and volleyball players. Offensive players are frequently suffering from postero-superior impingement. GIRD > 10∘ leads in nearly 75% of the athletes to a decrease of total range of motion and a high rate of postero-superior impingement. Thus, a decreased range of motion seems to be the turning point from adaptation to pathology. Therefore, regular controls of range of motion and countermeasures by means of stretching the posterior shoulder joint should be integrated in the training content.


2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 466-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey J. Picha ◽  
Josie L. Harding ◽  
Kellie C. Huxel Bliven

Context: The repetitive demands of throwing affect glenohumeral (GH) range of motion (ROM) and strength. Less is known about hip alterations in skeletally immature athletes. Objective: To compare GH and hip ROM and strength between age, position, and side of youth baseball athletes. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Multicenter testing. Patients or Other Participants: Seventy-two healthy baseball athletes. Participants' self-reported characteristics were age group (7−11 years [n = 28] or 12−18 years [n = 44]), position (pitcher [n = 22], position player [n = 47], unreported [n = 3]), and side (throwing or nonthrowing arm, lead or stance leg). Main Outcome Measure(s): Bilateral GH and hip internal- and external-rotation ROM were measured passively and summed for total arc of motion (TAM). Glenohumeral and hip rotation and gluteus medius strength were measured. Analyses included linear mixed models. Results: Glenohumeral internal rotation was less in throwing than in nonthrowing arms (P &lt; .05) except in younger pitchers (P = .86). Compared with older athletes, younger athletes had more GH external rotation (103.3° ± 7.7° versus 97.5° ± 9.4°; P = .002), TAM (156.4° ± 8.7° versus 147.9° ± 10.9°; P = .04), and external rotation in throwing compared with nonthrowing arms (101.9° ± 1.2° versus 97.9° ± 1.1°; P &lt; .001). Glenohumeral TAM was less in throwing than in nonthrowing arms (150.5° ± 2.1° versus 154.9° ± 1.3°; P = .01). Younger athletes had more hip internal rotation (38.9° ± 6.8° versus 31.2° ± 7.5°; P &lt; .001) and TAM (68.4° ± 10.0° versus 60.7° ± 9.8°; P = .001) than older athletes. Lead-leg hip internal-rotation ROM was greater than in the stance leg (34.8° ± 8.9° versus 32.8° ± 7.7°; P = .01). Overall, older players were stronger than younger players (P &lt; .05), and the throwing arm was stronger in internal rotation than the nonthrowing arm (10.12 ± 3.72 lb [4.59 ± 1.69 kg] versus 9.43 ± 3.18 lb [4.28 ± 1.44 kg]; P = .047). Conclusions: Youth baseball athletes had typical GH ROM adaptations of less internal rotation and more external rotation in the throwing versus the nonthrowing arm. Greater ROM in younger athletes may be explained by prepubertal characteristics. We obtained hip-strength values in youth baseball athletes, and as expected, older athletes were stronger.


2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Thomas ◽  
Kathleen A. Swanik ◽  
Charles B. Swanik ◽  
John D. Kelly

Abstract Context: Conditions such as labral and rotator cuff injuries have been linked with decreases in glenohumeral internal-rotation and increases in external-rotation motion. Also, decreased glenohumeral internal rotation is strongly associated with scapular dyskinesis. Objective: To compare healthy collegiate and high school baseball players' glenohumeral joint range of motion and scapular position. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Institutional research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Thirty-one male National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate (age  =  20.23 ± 1.17 years, height  =  186.24 ± 5.73 cm, mass  =  92.01 ± 7.68 kg) and 21 male high school baseball players (age  =  16.57 ± 0.76 years, height  =  180.58 ± 6.01 cm, mass  =  79.09 ± 11.51 kg). Main Outcome Measure(s): Glenohumeral internal and external rotation and scapular upward rotation were measured with a digital inclinometer. Scapular protraction was measured with a vernier caliper. All variables except scapular upward rotation were calculated as the difference between the dominant and nondominant sides. Results: Collegiate baseball players had more glenohumeral internal-rotation deficit (4.80°, P  =  .028) and total motion deficit (5.73°, P  =  .009) and less glenohumeral external-rotation gain (3.00°, P  =  .028) than high school players. Collegiate baseball players had less scapular upward rotation than high school players at the 90° (4.12°, P  =  .015, versus 3.00°, P  =  .025) and 120° (4.00°, P  =  .007, versus 3.40°, P  =  .005) positions. The scapular protraction difference was greater in collegiate baseball players than in high school players in the hands-on-hips and 90° positions (0.77 cm, P  =  .021, and 1.4 cm, P  =  .001). Conclusions: When comparing high school with collegiate baseball players, these data suggest that glenohumeral internal-rotation deficit and scapular position change as the level of competition increases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
Jeffrey G. Williams ◽  
Lauryn Darnall ◽  
Conrad Schumann

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.


2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 693-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Meister ◽  
Timothy Day ◽  
Marybeth Horodyski ◽  
Thomas W. Kaminski ◽  
Michael P. Wasik ◽  
...  

Background Differences in range of motion and rotational motion between the dominant and nondominant shoulders in throwing athletes are well documented, although the age at which these changes begin to occur is not known. Hypothesis Changes in glenohumeral rotational motion in the shoulder of the Little League/adolescent baseball player occur during the most formative years of physical development. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Elevation, internal rotation at 90° of abduction, and external rotation at 90° of abduction were measured in the dominant and nondominant shoulders of 294 baseball players, aged 8 to 16 years. Results Analysis of variance revealed 2-way interactions between arm dominance by age for elevation (P =. 005) and internal rotation (P =. 001). Significant differences were noted between dominant and nondominant arms for internal rotation at 90° (P =.001) and external rotation at 90° (P =. 001). Elevation, internal rotation at 90°, external rotation at 90°, and total range of motion varied significantly (P =. 001) among age groups. Elevation in the dominant arms of 16-year-olds was on average 5.3° less than in 8-year-olds (179.6° vs 174.3°). In the nondominant arms, mean elevation for 16-year-olds was 5.6° less than in 8-year-olds (179.7° vs 174.1°). Internal rotation at 90° for the dominant arms averaged 39.0° at age 8 and only 21.3° at age 16. In the non-dominant arms, internal rotation for 8-year-olds averaged 42.2° and only 33.1° for 16-year-olds. Conclusions Elevation and total range of motion decreased as age increased. These changes may be consequences of both bone and soft tissue adaptation. The most dramatic decline in total range of motion was seen between the 13-year-olds and 14-year-olds, in the year before peak incidence of Little Leaguer's shoulder. This decrease in rotational motion may cause increased stress at the physis during throwing.


Author(s):  
Luis Ceballos-Laita ◽  
Alberto Pérez-Manzano ◽  
Teresa Mingo-Gómez ◽  
Ignacio Hernando-Garijo ◽  
Ricardo Medrano-De-La-Fuente ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: The detection of primary risk factors through the assessment of shoulder range of motion (ROM) and muscle function could prevent injuries in the initial stages of the handball (HB) practice. OBJECTIVE: To compare shoulder ROM, muscle strength and muscle extensibility between throwing and non-throwing shoulders in young HB athletes and between non-HB athletes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed. Participants aged between 14–16 years that practice physical activity regularly were included and divided in two groups. The HB group included volunteers who practiced HB, the control group included volunteers who practiced other activities. The variables measured were internal rotation and external rotation ROM, maximum isometric strength, and extensibility of the tissues of the posterior part of the throwing and non-throwing shoulder. RESULTS: Thirty-seven subjects were included. The HB group (n= 19) showed greater ROM in both shoulders compared to the control group (n= 18) (p< 0.05). The throwing shoulder of the HB group showed less internal rotation ROM, greater external rotation ROM and greater internal rotation strength when compared to the non-throwing shoulder (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest that young HB athletes present differences in shoulder ROM compared to non-HB athletes. Also, HB athletes showed differences in ROM and strength between the TS and non-TS. Hence, the assessment of the shoulder ROM and muscle function should be taken into consideration to avoid injuries in this population.


Author(s):  
Tomonobu Ishigaki ◽  
Motoki Hirokawa ◽  
Yuya Ezawa ◽  
Masanori Yamanaka

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.


Hand ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 155894472093736
Author(s):  
Leeor S. Yefet ◽  
Doria Bellows ◽  
Marija Bucevska ◽  
Rebecca Courtemanche ◽  
Kim Durlacher ◽  
...  

Background: Our group previously developed an upper extremity repositioning (Sup-ER) protocol for brachial plexus birth injuries (BPBIs) that may improve supination and external rotation (ER) at 2 years of age. Questions were raised about the potential for the protocol to cause internal rotation (IR) deficits. The goal of this study was to explore the longer-term outcomes of the Sup-ER protocol and investigate IR/ER function. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional cohort study examined 16 children older than 4 years of age with significant enough BPBI to be treated with the Sup-ER protocol. Total shoulder and elbow function were assessed, including passive and active ranges of motion and strength of IR and ER. Results: Range of motion (ROM) for most active movements was decreased in the affected compared to unaffected arm. Notably, IR passive ROM was similar in the affected (78.7°) and unaffected arm (82.8°). External rotation strength of the affected arm was weaker (42.8 N) compared to the unaffected arm (57.9 N). IR strength had a greater deficit in the affected (43.2 N) arm compared to the unaffected arm (72.2 N), but both ER and IR showed less deficit than described in the literature. Conclusions: Despite differences in ranges of motion between the affected and unaffected arms, ROMs for the affected arm were comparable to the functional limits as reported in the literature. The Sup-ER protocol shows potential to optimize long-term shoulder rotation function in children with BPBI without compromising IR.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 232596711984797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuya Omodaka ◽  
Takashi Ohsawa ◽  
Tsuyoshi Tajika ◽  
Hiroyuki Shiozawa ◽  
Syogo Hashimoto ◽  
...  

Background: Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is characterized by traction apophysitis of the tibial tuberosity. Few studies on symptomatic and asymptomatic OSD have correlated findings with clinical examination. Purpose: To investigate the relationship between lower limb tightness and practice time among adolescent baseball players with symptomatic OSD. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The study participants were 402 male baseball players (N = 804 knees) with a mean ± SD age of 10.9 ± 1.5 years (range, 7-14 years). Participant age, height, body weight, body mass index, practice time per week, range of motion of the hip and ankle joints, heel-buttock distance (HBD), and straight-legged raise angle were evaluated. Tibial tuberosity development, as assessed with ultrasonography, was classified into 4 stages: cartilaginous, apophyseal, epiphyseal, and bony. Knees that were classified as apophyseal or epiphyseal were investigated. Participants were divided into 3 groups: non-OSD, asymptomatic OSD, and symptomatic OSD. Results: Of 400 knees in the apophyseal and epiphyseal stages, 23 knees had asymptomatic OSD, and 11 had symptomatic OSD. Players with symptomatic OSD practiced for significantly longer than the non-OSD group ( P = .001) and asymptomatic OSD group ( P = .001). Players with symptomatic OSD also had a larger HBD ( P = .006) and smaller range of motion regarding internal rotation of hip ( P = .023) and dorsiflexion of the ankle ( P = .013) than the non-OSD group. Conclusion: Players with symptomatic OSD had longer practice times than the non-OSD and asymptomatic OSD players. Symptomatic OSD was also associated with tightness of the lower limbs as assessed by the HBD and range of motion in the hip and ankle joints.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 1017-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Rangel Torres ◽  
João Luiz Ellera Gomes

Background Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit, often diagnosed in players of overhead sports, has been associated with the development of secondary shoulder lesions. Hypothesis Asymptomatic players of different overhead sports will exhibit variable degrees of glenohumeral internal rotation deficit. Study Design Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods Fifty-four asymptomatic male volunteers (108 shoulders) divided into 3 groups (tennis players, swimmers, control group) underwent measurements of glenohumeral internal and external rotation using clinical examination with scapular stabilization. Measurements of dominant and nondominant shoulders were compared within and between groups. Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) was defined as the difference in internal rotation between the nondominant and dominant shoulders. Results In tennis players, mean GIRD was 23.9° ± 8.4° (P < .001); in swimmers, 12° ± 6.8° (P < .001); and in the control group, 4.9° ± 7.4° (P = .035). Dominant shoulders showed significant difference between all groups, and the difference in internal rotation of the dominant shoulder between the group of tennis players in comparison with the control group (27.6°, P < .001) was greater than the difference in internal rotation of the dominant shoulder found in the group of swimmers compared with the control group (17.9°, P < .001). Between tennis players and swimmers, the difference in internal rotation of the dominant shoulder was 9.7° (P = .002). Conclusion Dominant limbs showed less glenohumeral internal rotation than the nondominant limbs in all groups, with the deficit in the group of tennis players about twice the deficit found for swimmers. Mean difference between limbs in the control group was less than 5°, which is within normal parameters according to most studies. There were statistically significant differences between all groups when dominant shoulders were compared with each other, differences that were not compensated by external rotation gain. Tennis players had the least range of motion, followed by swimmers.


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