Elbow range of motion in professional baseball pitchers.
BACKGROUND
Physicians involved with the care of baseball players have noted elbow range of motion changes in pitchers. Objective data regarding the extent of these changes have rarely been documented.


OBJECTIVE
Dominant and nondominant elbow range of motion differences are common in baseball pitchers, and these differences are related to player age, amount and length of time professionally pitched, and history of surgical procedures on the dominant extremity.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 4.


METHODS
Thirty-three professional pitchers were evaluated for elbow range of motion during spring training preseason physical examination. Dominant and nondominant elbow range of motion including flexion, extension, supination, and pronation were measured with a goniometer. Range of motion measures from the dominant and nondominant sides were compared. Baseball records were reviewed for arm dominance, age, years of professional pitching, professional innings pitched, and history of elbow surgery. These factors were evaluated for their possible association with range of motion for each side and the difference between sides.


RESULTS
Statistically significant differences between dominant and nondominant sides were noted for elbow extension (dominant decreased 7.9 degrees +/- 7.4 degrees, P < .0001), flexion (dominant decreased 5.5 degrees +/- 7.8 degrees, P = .0003), and total flexion-extension arc (dominant decreased 13.3 degrees +/- 13.7 degrees, P < .0001). No significant difference between sides was found for the supination or pronation measures. No correlation was noted for age, pitching history, surgery, or arm dominance and the motion differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Professional pitchers demonstrate elbow flexion and extension differences between dominant and nondominant elbows. No correlation was found between motion differences and age, pitching history, surgery, or arm dominance.
Wright
Rick W
RW
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, West Pavilion, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. rwwright1@aol.com
Steger-May
Karen
K
Wasserlauf
Brett L
BL
O'Neal
Mark E
ME
Weinberg
Barry W
BW
Paletta
George A
GA
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001484:Baseball / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular