Lack of a relationship between glenohumeral external-rotation strength and posterior shoulder tightness in baseball players.
BACKGROUND
Posterior shoulder tightness has been associated with altered shoulder range of motion (ROM) and several pathologic entities in baseball players. This tightness is hypothesized to be the result of the cumulative stress placed on the posterior shoulder during the deceleration phase of the throwing motion. The role of the posterior shoulder static restraints is to absorb this load while the glenohumeral (GH) external rotators eccentrically decelerate the arm after ball release and therefore also help dissipate this force. As such, the authors hypothesized that if the GH external rotators are weak, an excessive amount of this deceleration force is placed on the static restraints, which may lead to subsequent tightness.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the relationship between GH external-rotation strength and posterior shoulder tightness as measured by GH horizontal-adduction and internal-rotation ROM.


METHODS
Descriptive study.


METHODS
Laboratory.


METHODS
45 professional baseball players.


METHODS
GH external-rotation strength and GH horizontal-adduction and internal-rotation ROM.


RESULTS
GH external-rotation strength showed no relationship with either GH horizontal-adduction ROM (r2 = .02, P = .40) or GH internal-rotation ROM (r2 = .002, P = .77).


CONCLUSIONS
There is little to no relationship between GH external-rotation strength and posterior shoulder tightness in professional baseball players. The posterior static restraints of the shoulder may absorb a large majority of the deceleration forces during the throwing motion. Although strengthening of the posterior shoulder dynamic restraints should not be overlooked, routine stretching of the static restraints may be more beneficial for decreasing posterior shoulder tightness and the subsequent risks associated with this tightness, although future research is warranted.
School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA.
Kevin G
KG
Laudner
Mike
M
Moline
Keith
K
Meister
D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001484:Baseball / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012399:Rotation; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult