title: Elbow isokinetic strength characteristics among collegiate baseball players.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the bilateral strength characteristics of the wrist flexors, extensors, pronators, and supinators among baseball players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 collegiate baseball players with no recent history of upper extremity injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bilateral pronation, supination, wrist flexion, and wrist extension peak torque (PT) and peak torque to body weight (PT/BW) strength were measured at speeds of 90 and 180°/second.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Paired t-tests showed that the throwing arm of baseball players produced significantly less PT/BW strength for supination at 90°/second compared to the non-throwing arm (P = .001). The throwing arm produced significantly more PT/BW strength for pronation (P = .001) at 180°/second compared to the non-throwing arm. Furthermore, the throwing arm had more PT and PT/BW strength for wrist extension (P < .005) at 180°/second. Conversely, the throwing arm had less PT and PT/BW strength for supination (P < .004) and wrist flexion (P < .004) at 180°/second compared to the non-throwing arm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant bilateral strength differences exist in pronation, supination, wrist flexion, and wrist extension among collegiate baseball players. With the steady increase in ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the elbow among baseball players and the proven resistance to valgus force provided by the flexor-pronator mass of the elbow, the results of this study may prove beneficial in the prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation of such dysfunctions.
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Illinois State University, Campus Box 5120, Normal, IL 61790, USA. klaudner@ilstu.edu
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Laudner
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meister
mesh_terms: D001484:Baseball; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004550:Elbow / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D011403:Pronation / Q000502:physiology; D013484:Supination / Q000502:physiology; D019415:Torque; D014495:Universities; D014953:Wrist / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult