Purpose: Previous studies have been reported that overhead throwing athletes demonstrate glenohumeral internal rotation deficit in the dominant shoulder. The reason may result from soft tissue or bony adaptation. Little is known about the relationship between years of play and glenohumeral range of motion (ROM) at dominant arm in baseball pitchers. The purpose of this study was to investigate glenohumeral rotation motion changes in baseball pitchers and correlates these measurements with years of play, and the difference between dominant and non-dominant shoulders. Methods: One hundred and sixty baseball pitchers (Mean age=14.5±2.9 years; years of play=2-9 years) participated in this study. Bilateral glenohumeral internal and external ROM were measured. To normalize the definition of the rotation, internal or external rotation ROM percentage of total rotation ROM was used. One-Way ANOVA was used to compare the difference in glenohumeral internal and external rotation, and total arc of motion between bilateral shoulder ROM of each subject. Tukey post hoc analyses were performed to determine significant differences in shoulder rotation among the years of play. Result: Significant difference was found in internal rotation ROM percentage between 2-year of play and 9-year of play in the dominant shoulder (31.57% vs 25.96%). Significant decrease in shoulder total arc of motion was found at 6-year of play (p<.05). Besides, significant differences was in external rotation ROM percentage between 9-year of play and 2-year of play (74.25% vs 68.43%). Conclusion: In the dominant shoulder, internal rotation and total arc of motion decrease as the years of play increased. In addition, external rotation changes as the years of play increases.
Purpose: Previous studies have been reported that overhead throwing athletes demonstrate glenohumeral internal rotation deficit in the dominant shoulder. The reason may result from soft tissue or bony adaptation. Little is known about the relationship between years of play and glenohumeral range of motion (ROM) at dominant arm in baseball pitchers. The purpose of this study was to investigate glenohumeral rotation motion changes in baseball pitchers and correlates these measurements with years of play, and the difference between dominant and non-dominant shoulders. Methods: One hundred and sixty baseball pitchers (Mean age=14.5±2.9 years; years of play=2-9 years) participated in this study. Bilateral glenohumeral internal and external ROM were measured. To normalize the definition of the rotation, internal or external rotation ROM percentage of total rotation ROM was used. One-Way ANOVA was used to compare the difference in glenohumeral internal and external rotation, and total arc of motion between bilateral shoulder ROM of each subject. Tukey post hoc analyses were performed to determine significant differences in shoulder rotation among the years of play. Result: Significant difference was found in internal rotation ROM percentage between 2-year of play and 9-year of play in the dominant shoulder (31.57% vs 25.96%). Significant decrease in shoulder total arc of motion was found at 6-year of play (p<.05). Besides, significant differences was in external rotation ROM percentage between 9-year of play and 2-year of play (74.25% vs 68.43%). Conclusion: In the dominant shoulder, internal rotation and total arc of motion decrease as the years of play increased. In addition, external rotation changes as the years of play increases.