title: EVALUATION OF PAINFUL SHOULDER IN BASEBALL PLAYERS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between shoulder mobility and strength and the presence of pain among baseball players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April and July 2009, 55 baseball players were assessed by the Shoulder and Elbow Group of the School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de Misericórdia, São Paulo. They were all males, aged between 15 and 33 years (mean of 21); they attended an average of three training sessions per week and had been doing this sport for a mean of 10 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  14 of the 55 players evaluated were pitchers, and 20 reported pain during the pitching motion. The mean values for lateral and medial rotation and range of motion (ROM) in the dominant shoulder were, respectively, 110 °, 61 ° and 171 °, with a statistically significant difference in relation to the non-dominant limb. Pitchers had greater gains in lateral rotation and deficits in medial rotation than did non-pitchers. Pain presented a statistically significant correlation with diminished ROM, greater length of time playing the sport and situations of "shoulder at risk".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statistically significant differences in dominant shoulder mobility were found, with increased lateral rotation, diminished medial rotation and smaller ROM, in relation to the contralateral limb. There was a statistically significant relationship between the pitcher's position and greater gain in lateral rotation and diminished medial rotation. There were statistically significant correlations between pain and diminished ROM, greater length of time playing the sport and situations of "shoulder at risk". There was a statistical tendency suggesting that players with diminished medial rotation of the dominant shoulder presented a relationship with pain.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Doctoral Professor and Head of the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alberto Naoki
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor and Assistant of the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fregoneze
authors.affiliation: Assistant of the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro Doneux
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Assistant of the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Andrade
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Assistant of the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: do Val Sella
authors.affiliation: Student Trainee of the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriano Fernando Mendes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Junior
authors.affiliation: Student Trainee of the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Lopes
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Student of the School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo.
authors.forename: Leandro Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Aihara
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Academic Consultant and member of the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Luiz
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Checchia
keywords: Baseball; Joint Range of Motion; Shoulder