title: REASSESSMENT OF PAINFUL SHOULDERS AMONG BASEBALL PLAYERS AFTER CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the rehabilitation results among baseball players who presented pain and medial rotation deficit in their shoulders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of 55 baseball players assessed between April and June 2009, it was observed that 20 presented pain at some instant during throwing movements. They were advised to undergo a rehabilitation program with exercises to stretch the posterior capsule and reinforce the muscles of the scapular belt, especially the lateral rotators. Eighteen patients followed the advice, while two were lost from the follow-up. The parameters evaluated were: pain, range of motion, strength before the program and strength after the end of the program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing the initial and final assessments, we observed mean increases as follows: 10° of elevation (p = 0.001); three vertebral levels of medial rotation (p < 0.001); 20° of medial rotation at 90° abduction (p < 0.001); and 26° of range of motion (p < 0.001). Regarding strength, elevation force increased by 3 kgf (p = 0.002) and lateral rotation force increased by 1 kgf (p = 0.020). Out of the 18 baseball players studied, the pain level improved in 16, while two continued to present pain and underwent magnetic resonance imaging, which showed lesions for surgical treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rehabilitation program conducted among the baseball players was effective and enabled increases in medial rotation, elevation, range of motion and strength of elevation and lateral rotation, consequently producing pain improvements in most of the players.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor and Head of the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alberto Naoki
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor and Attending Physician in the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fregoneze
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician in the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro Doneux
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician in the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Andrade
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician in the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: do Val Sella
authors.affiliation: Trainee in the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio Eduardo
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Ishioka
authors.affiliation: Trainee in the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Roberto Polydoro
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Resident Physician in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Renato Depari
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Estelles
authors.affiliation: Adjunct Professor; Academic Consultant and Member of the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Luiz
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Checchia
keywords: Baseball; Joint Range of Motion; Shoulder