title: Effects of two stretching methods on shoulder range of motion and muscle stiffness in baseball players with posterior shoulder tightness: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cross-body stretch and sleeper stretch are widely used for improving flexibility of the posterior shoulder. These stretching methods were modified by Wilk. However, few quantitative data are available on the new, modified stretching methods. A recent study reported the immediate effects of stretching and soft tissue mobilization on the shoulder range of motion (ROM) and muscle stiffness in subjects with posterior shoulder tightness. However, the long-term effect of stretching for muscle stiffness is unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of 2 stretching methods, the modified cross-body stretch (MCS) and the modified sleeper stretch (MSS), on shoulder ROM and muscle stiffness in baseball players with posterior shoulder tightness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four college baseball players with ROM limitations in shoulder internal rotation were randomly assigned to the MCS or MSS group. We measured shoulder internal rotation and horizontal adduction ROM and assessed posterior shoulder muscle stiffness with ultrasonic shear wave elastography before and after a 4-week intervention. Subjects were asked to perform 3 repetitions of the stretching exercises every day, for 30 seconds, with their dominant shoulder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups, shoulder internal rotation and horizontal adduction ROM were significantly increased after the 4-week intervention. Muscle stiffness of the teres minor decreased in the MCS group, and that of the infraspinatus decreased in the MSS group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MCS and MSS are effective for increasing shoulder internal rotation and horizontal adduction ROM and decreasing muscle stiffness of the infraspinatus or teres minor.
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: h2sutofo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Taishi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishishita
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanase
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Umehara
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ibuki
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ichihashi
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D001484:Baseball / Q000502:physiology*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Shear wave elastography; baseball; infraspinatus; modified cross-over stretching; modified sleeper stretching; posterior shoulder tightness; teres minor