title: The effect of age on elbow range of motion in pitchers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alteration of elbow range of motion (ROM) has been observed in baseball pitchers. This study aims to compare dominant elbow ROM between early-puberty, late-puberty, and young-adult pitchers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 62 pitchers, consisting of 17 early-puberty (mean age 13.1 years old), 22 late-puberty (mean age 17.7 years old), and 23 young-adult players (mean age 19.4 years old). Dominant elbow ROMs was measured. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences in elbow ROM variables between 3 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Late-puberty pitchers exhibited a significantly lower elbow hyperextension and flexion than early-puberty or young-adult pitchers (P < .05). Valgus angle was significantly lower in young-adult (7.7°±5.5°) versus early-puberty (12.1°±2.3°) and late-puberty pitchers (13.0°±4.1°; P < .05). Young-adult pitchers had the largest forearm supination range (101.2°±18.1°), followed by early-puberty (82.5°±6.5°; P < .05) and late-puberty pitchers (70.6°±15.8°). Elbow flexion-hyperextension total range was smallest in late-puberty pitchers (130.3°±7.4°), followed by young-adult (142.6°±9.3°) and early-puberty pitchers (144.6°±8.3°; P < .05). Forearm pronation-supination total range was also smallest in late-puberty pitchers (142.0°±20.3°), followed by early-puberty (159.8°±9.5°) and young-adult pitchers (177.2°±20.8°; P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that careful monitoring of the elbow and forearm range of motion should be undertaken in adolescent baseball pitchers to prevent and or minimize injury risk.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; The Center of General Education, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors: Yu-Lin
authors: YL
authors: Wang
authors: School of Physical Therapy, College of Medical Science & Technology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Room of Physical Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Hsiao-Yun
authors: HY
authors: Chang
authors: Graduate Institute of Athletics and Coaching Science, National Taiwan Sport University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: shihchung@ntsu.edu.tw.
authors: Shih-Chung
authors: SC
authors: Cheng
authors: Graduate Institute of Sports Equipment and Technology, University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chiang
authors: C
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001484:Baseball / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult; D000092464:Elbow Injuries
keywords: Baseball; Elbow injury; Flexibility; Overhead throwing