Changes in Shoulder and Elbow Passive Range of Motion After Pitching in Professional Baseball Players

Background: The overhead throwing athlete has unique range of motion characteristics of the shoulder and elbow. Numerous theories exist to explain these characteristics; however, the precise cause is not known. Although it is accepted that range of motion is altered, the acute effect of baseball pit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of sports medicine 2008-03, Vol.36 (3), p.523-527
Main Authors: Reinold, Michael M., Wilk, Kevin E., Macrina, Leonard C., Sheheane, Chris, Dun, Shouchen, Fleisig, Glenn S., Crenshaw, Ken, Andrews, James R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Athletes
Baseball - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Elbow
Elbow Joint - physiology
Humans
Joint diseases
Male
Measurement
Medical sciences
Motion
Musculoskeletal system
Physiological aspects
Professional baseball
Range of motion
Range of Motion, Articular - physiology
Shoulder
Shoulder Joint - physiology
Sports injuries
Sports medicine
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Summary:Background: The overhead throwing athlete has unique range of motion characteristics of the shoulder and elbow. Numerous theories exist to explain these characteristics; however, the precise cause is not known. Although it is accepted that range of motion is altered, the acute effect of baseball pitching on shoulder and elbow range of motion has not been established. Hypothesis: There will be a reduction in passive range of motion immediately after baseball pitching. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Sixty-seven asymptomatic male professional baseball pitchers participated in the study. Passive range of motion measurements were recorded using a customized bubble goniometer for shoulder external rotation, shoulder internal rotation, total shoulder rotational motion, elbow flexion, and elbow extension on the dominant and nondominant arms. Testing was performed on the first day of spring training. Measurements were taken before, immediately after, and 24 hours after pitching. Results: A significant decrease in shoulder internal rotation (−9.5°), total motion (−10.7°), and elbow extension (−3.2°) occurred immediately after baseball pitching in the dominant shoulder ( P
ISSN:0363-5465
1552-3365
DOI:10.1177/0363546507308935