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Association of arm pain with overhead throwing and upper extremity range of motion, strength, and throwing velocity in collegiate baseball players

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate whether shoulder and elbow range of motion (ROM), upper extremity (UE) strength, and throwing velocity differ between collegiate baseball players with UE pain and those without pain.

Methods

Twenty-seven Division II baseball players participated. Athletes completed an injury surveillance survey detailing past and present arm injuries and pain. Bilateral shoulder/elbow ROM and strength were measured with a goniometer and dynamometer, respectively. Throwing velocity was measured with a radar gun. Differences between dominant and non-dominant arm measurements were analyzed, as were differences between groups complaining of pain versus no pain.

Results

Pain was reported in 11 athletes. Compared to the non-dominant arm, significant decreases were noted in dominant arm ROM measurements of shoulder flexion (p = 0.02), abduction (p < 0.01), internal rotation (IR) (p < 0.01), and total ROM (p = 0.03). External rotation (ER) was significantly increased in the dominant arm (p < 0.01). Dominant shoulder IR and ER strength were greater (p < 0.01) and thumb-down abduction strength was decreased in the pain group (p = 0.02) with respect to the non-dominant arm. Remaining strength measurements and velocity were not notably different between pain and no pain groups. Univariate analysis revealed total elbow ROM as a pain indicator (p < 0.01). Regression analysis showed the odds of pain with throwing were 17% higher for every 1° decrease in total elbow ROM.

Conclusion

Despite differences in dominant arm measurements, shoulder ROM was not related to pain in the shoulder of participants. However, decreased supraspinatus strength and total elbow ROM did appear to be related to upper extremity pain.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, OhioHealth, 5100 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH, USA

    Devon M. Myers

  2. Strength and Conditioning, Mercy Sports Medicine, Springfield, MO, USA

    Joseph S. Emery

  3. Research Support, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO, USA

    Vanessa Pazdernik

  4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO, USA

    Kevin Marberry

Authors
  1. Devon M. Myers
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  2. Joseph S. Emery
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  3. Vanessa Pazdernik
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  4. Kevin Marberry
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Devon M. Myers.

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Funding

Not applicable.

Conflicts of interest

Dr. Myers, Dr. Marberry, Mr. Emery and Ms. Pazdernik do not have any relevant disclosures or conflicts of interest to report.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board before initiation and was performed in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration.

Informed consent

Written consent was individually obtained from each study participant before study initiation.

Availability of data and material

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Myers, D.M., Emery, J.S., Pazdernik, V. et al. Association of arm pain with overhead throwing and upper extremity range of motion, strength, and throwing velocity in collegiate baseball players. Sport Sci Health 18, 47–53 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00772-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00772-5

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