HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 35/12/2091    most recent 0363546507305098v1 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 Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Laudner, K. G. Articles by Meister, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Laudner, K. G. Articles by Meister, K. Related Collections Kinematics and kinetics Shoulder Baseball

Differences in Scapular Upward Rotation Between Baseball Pitchers and Position Players

Kevin G. Laudner, PhD, ATC^,*, Justin M. Stanek, MS, ATC and Keith Meister, MD

From the Biomechanics Laboratory, School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, and Texas Metroplex Institute for Sports Medicine and Orthopedics, Arlington, Texas

^* Address correspondence to Kevin G. Laudner, PhD, ATC, Illinois State University, School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Campus Box 5120, Normal, IL 61790 (e-mail: klaudner{at}ilstu.edu).

Background: Baseball pitchers have been reported to have an increased prevalence of shoulder injury compared with position players such as infielders and outfielders. Furthermore, insufficient scapular upward rotation has been empirically linked with several of these shoulder disorders. However, the difference in scapular upward rotation between pitchers and position players is not known.

Hypothesis: Pitchers will have decreased scapular upward rotation of their dominant shoulders compared with position players.

Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods: Dominant shoulder scapular upward rotation was measured with the arm at rest and at 60°, 90°, and 120° of humeral elevation among 15 professional baseball pitchers and 15 position players with no recent history of upper extremity injury.

Results: Independent t tests showed pitchers have significantly less scapular upward rotation at 60° (3.9°, P = .011) and 90° (4.4°, P = .009) of humeral elevation compared with position players.

Conclusion: Baseball pitchers have less scapular upward rotation than do position players, specifically at humeral elevation angles of 60° and 90°.

Clinical Relevance: This decrease in scapular upward rotation may compromise the integrity of the glenohumeral joint and place pitchers at an increased risk of developing shoulder injuries compared with position players. As such, pitchers may benefit from periscapular stretching and strengthening exercises to assist with increasing scapular upward rotation.

Key Words: scapula • kinematics • throwing athletes • digital inclinometer