Decreased Hip Internal Rotation Increases the Risk of Back and Abdominal Muscle Injuries in Professional Baseball Players

Normal hip range of motion (ROM) is essential in running and transfer of energy from lower to upper extremities during overhead throwing. Dysfunctional hip ROM may alter lower extremity kinematics and predispose athletes to hip and groin injuries. The purpose of this study is characterize hip internal/external ROM (Arc) and its effect on the risk of hip, hamstring, and groin injuries in professional baseball players. Bilateral hip internal and external ROM was measured on all baseball players (N=201) in one professional organization (major and minor league) during spring training. Players were organized according to their respective positions. All injuries were documented prospectively for an entire MLB season (2010 to 2011). Data was analyzed according to position and injuries during the season. Total number of players (N=201) with an average age of 24±3.6 (range=17-37). Both pitchers (N=93) and catchers (N=22) had significantly decreased mean hip internal rotation and overall hip arc of motion compared to the positional players (N=86). Players with hip, groin, and hamstring injury also had decreased hip rotation arc when compared to the normal group. Overall, there is a correlation between decreased hip internal rotation and total arc of motion with hip, hamstring, and groin injuries.

Download Full-text

The Impact of Workload on the Evolution of Hip Internal and External Rotation in Professional Baseball Players Over the Course of the Season

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967117752105 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 232596711775210 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Christopher L. Camp ◽

John M. Zajac ◽

Dave Pearson ◽

Dean Wang ◽

Alec S. Sinatro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

External Rotation ◽

Professional Baseball ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Hip Range Of Motion ◽

Hip Motion ◽

Hip Internal Rotation ◽

Loss Of Motion ◽

The Impact

Background: Although restricted hip range of motion (ROM) is associated with an increased risk for injuries in baseball players, the evolution of hip ROM over the season remains undefined. Hypothesis: Hip ROM profiles would be symmetric between hips and positions (pitchers vs position players) but would decrease from preseason to postseason. Additionally, it was hypothesized that this decrease in motion would correlate with workload. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Bilateral hip ROM was assessed in 96 professional baseball players (54 pitchers, 42 position players) preseason and postseason. ROM comparisons were made between lead and trailing hips, pitchers and position players, and preseason and postseason measures. The change from preseason to postseason was correlated with player demographics and measures of workload for pitchers and position players. Results: Preseason hip ROM was symmetric between hips; however, pitchers demonstrated increased preseason lead hip internal rotation (IR) ( P = .018) and bilateral hip total ROM (TROM) ( P < .020) compared with position players. From preseason to postseason, position players lost 7° of external rotation (ER) ( P ≤ .005 ). In pitchers, the loss of IR correlated with increased pitches ( P = .016) and innings ( P = .037), while the loss of ER ( P = .005 ) and TROM ( P = .014) correlated with increasing mean fastball velocity. Workload for position players did not correlate with motion loss. Conclusion: Symmetric hip ROM profiles should be anticipated in baseball players; however, pitchers may have increased preseason IR and TROM and postseason ER and TROM relative to position players. Although loss of motion correlated with workload in pitchers, this was not the case for position players. Hip motion should be monitored over the course of the season. This is particularly true for pitchers who lose IR as workload increases, which may place them at a greater risk for injuries.

Download Full-text

Restriction in the hip internal rotation of the stride leg is associated with elbow and shoulder pain in elite young baseball players

Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.jse.2019.07.004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 139-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Takuya Sekiguchi ◽

Yoshihiro Hagiwara ◽

Yutaka Yabe ◽

Masahiro Tsuchiya ◽

Nobuyuki Itaya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Internal Rotation ◽

Shoulder Pain ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Hip Internal Rotation

Download Full-text

Associations Among Hip and Shoulder Range of Motion and Shoulder Injury in Professional Baseball Players

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-45.2.191 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 191-197 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Steve Scher ◽

Kyle Anderson ◽

Nick Weber ◽

Jeff Bajorek ◽

Kevin Rand ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Internal Rotation ◽

External Rotation ◽

Professional Baseball ◽

Shoulder Injury ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit ◽

History Of ◽

Shoulder External Rotation ◽

The Relationship ◽

Hip Extension

Abstract Context: The overhead throwing motion is complex, and restrictions in range of motion (ROM) at the hip may place additional demands on the shoulder that lead to injury. However, the relationship between hip and shoulder ROM in athletes with and without a history of shoulder injury is unknown. Objective: To (1) determine if differences exist in hip and shoulder ROM between professional baseball players with a history of shoulder injury and those with no history of shoulder injury and (2) assess relationships between hip and shoulder ROM in these players. Design: Cross-sectional study. Patients or Other Participants: Fifty-seven professional baseball players. Main Outcome Measure(s): Outcome measures consisted of hip extension and internal rotation, shoulder internal and external rotation, glenohumeral internal-rotation deficit, and history of shoulder injury. Differences in shoulder and hip ROM were assessed with a 1-way analysis of variance. Associations between hip and shoulder ROM were assessed with linear regression. Results: Nonpitchers with a history of shoulder injury had more external rotation and less internal rotation of the shoulder than nonpitchers with no history of shoulder injury. Glenohumeral internal-rotation deficit was greater in both pitchers and nonpitchers with a history of shoulder injury. The relationship between dominant hip extension and shoulder external rotation was significant for pitchers with a history of shoulder injury and nonpitchers with a history of shoulder injury. Conclusions: Shoulder injury may be associated with specific measures of hip and shoulder ROM, and hip extension and shoulder external rotation may be related in baseball players with a history of shoulder injury. Additional research is necessary to understand the specific mechanisms of shoulder injury in the throwing athlete.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text