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Retroversion of the Humerus in the Throwing Shoulder of College Baseball Pitchers

Daryl C. Osbahr^*, David L. Cannon, MD and Kevin P. Speer, MD^,

^* Coach Michael W. Krzyzewski Human Performance Research Laboratory, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Sports Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia
Southeastern Orthopedics Sports Medicine and Shoulder Center, Raleigh, North Carolina

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Kevin P. Speer, MD, Southeastern Orthopedics, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Center, 3404 Wake Forest Road, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27609

Background: Increased external rotation and decreased internal rotation have been noted to occur progressively in the throwing shoulder of baseball pitchers.

Hypothesis: Proximal remodeling of the humerus contributes to the rotational asymmetry between shoulders in pitchers.

Study Design: Descriptive anatomic study.

Methods: Both shoulders of 19 male college baseball pitchers were evaluated and retroversion of the humerus calculated by using the technique of Söderlund et al. Measurements were taken of passive glenohumeral external rotation at 0° and 90° of abduction and internal rotation at 90° of abduction under a 3.5-kg load. Subjects completed a questionnaire on the amount and duration of overhead throwing performed during the ages 8 through 16 years.

Results: All of the subjects had greater external rotation at 0° and 90° of abduction, decreased internal rotation at 90° of abduction, and greater retroversion of the humerus in their dominant compared with nondominant shoulders. A significant difference was found between dominant and nondominant external rotation at 0° and 90° of abduction, internal rotation at 90° of abduction, and retroversion of the humerus. In the dominant arm, there was a significant correlation between retroversion of the humerus and external rotation at 0° and 90° of abduction. There was also a significant correlation between the side-to-side difference in retroversion of the humerus compared with the side-to-side difference in external rotation at 90° of abduction.

Conclusions: Rotational changes in the throwing shoulder are due to bony as well as soft tissue adaptations.

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