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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 32/7/1711    most recent 0363546504263701v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sethi, P. M. Articles by Lee, T. Q. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sethi, P. M. Articles by Lee, T. Q. Related Collections Shoulder Baseball Anatomy

Quantitative Assessment of Glenohumeral Translation in Baseball Players

A Comparison of Pitchers Versus Nonpitching Athletes

Paul Michael Sethi^*, James E. Tibone, MD^, and Thay Q. Lee, PhD

From ^* Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Associates, Greenwich, Connecticut, University of Southern California and Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, Los Angeles, California, and VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, California

Address correspondence to James E. Tibone, MD, University of Southern California, 6801 Park Terrace Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (e-mail: tibone{at}usc.edu).

Background: Objective data quantifying differences in glenohumeral range of motion in baseball pitchers versus position players are established. There is limited information objectively comparing glenohumeral laxity in this same population.

Hypothesis: Baseball pitchers have greater difference in side-to-side anteroposterior translation of their throwing shoulders compared with position players.

Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: Cutaneous electromagnetic sensors quantified anteroposterior shoulder translation of college and professional baseball players. Range of motion was measured.

Results: Nineteen position players and 37 pitchers were studied. Pitchers had a significant increase in external rotation of the dominant arm as compared with the nondominant arm (P = .02); the difference was not significant in position players (P = .34). The mean range of motion for pitchers’ dominant arm was 110° external rotation to 68° internal rotation, and it was 100° external rotation to 85° internal rotation for position players (P = .278). The mean anteroposterior translation in pitchers’ dominant arm was 33.30 mm and 29.84 mm in the nondominant side (P = .0001). This difference was not present in position players (P = .88). One of 19 position players had a side-to-side shoulder translation difference greater than 3 mm, compared with 22 of 37 pitchers (P = .0001).

Conclusions: Pitchers have a greater amount of glenohumeral translation in the dominant arm. This difference is not seen in position players. These differences make the side-to-side comparison less useful in pitchers and should be considered when making therapeutic decisions.

Key Words: shoulder • instability • baseball • translation

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