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Glenohumeral Stiffness in Overhead Athletes Following Pitching

Stoughton, Thomas A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1374078856

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Mechanical Engineering.
Experienced baseball pitchers exhibit differences in range of motion, strength, and stiffness of their glenohumeral joint between their dominant and non-dominant arms. These changes are attributed to the repetitive and ballistic demands of pitching. Immediate changes in range of motion and strength in the dominant arm following pitching have been reported. These changes have been correlated with shoulder injuries in pitchers. Active glenohumeral joint stiffness is the measure of the change in torque over a change in rotational angle during constant rotation. This project investigates if any changes in active glenohumeral joint stiffness occur as a result of pitching a simulated game, and whether any range of motion, strength, or kinematic parameters correlate with the differences before and after throwing. The hypothesis was that active glenohumeral joint stiffness would adaptively increase following throwing. 18 healthy subjects participated in this study, all of which had competed at the high school varsity level or higher. Active glenohumeral joint stiffness was recorded using a Biodex dynamometer and was calculated for two different rotational speeds, 90°/sec and 300°/sec. Subjects eccentrically loaded their external rotators during a constant internal rotation. Five range of motion measurements were taken: external rotation (ER), internal rotation (IR), horizontal adduction (HAD), low flexion (LF), and extension plus internal rotation (EIR). Both internal and external isometric strength were recorded with a handheld dynamometer, and passive rotational stiffness was calculated as well. Measurements were taken before, immediately following, and 24 following a pitching session. Subjects threw 15 pitches every inning, for up to 7 innings or when they felt they could no longer continue due to fatigue. Results indicate that the active stiffness of the glenohumeral joint significantly decreases following a pitching session, from an average of 0.79 ± 0.24 ft-lbs/deg before throwing to averages of 0.55 ± 0.29 ft-lbs/deg and 0.48 ± 0.23 ft-lbs/deg immediately following and 24 hours following throwing, respectively. Decreases in external rotation strength and (18.96 ± 3.28 kgf before throwing, 17.02 ± 3.68 kgf immediately following throwing) and decreases in horizontal adduction range of motion (34.31 ± 6.72° before throwing, 31.08± 4.38° immediately following throwing) indicate that muscular properties are altered immediately following throwing. The low flexion range of motion test showed no statistically significant differences before and immediately after throwing (26.89 ± 6.05° to 29.27 ± 5.29°, respectively) which indicates that capsular changes do not occur immediately following throwing. From these results, the immediate decrease in active glenohumeral joint stiffness following throwing can be attributed to a change in the rotator cuff muscle properties.
John Borstad (Committee Member)
Robert Siston (Advisor)
80 p.
Biomechanics; Engineering; Mechanical Engineering

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Stoughton, T. A. (2013). Glenohumeral Stiffness in Overhead Athletes Following Pitching [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1374078856

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Stoughton, Thomas. Glenohumeral Stiffness in Overhead Athletes Following Pitching. 2013. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1374078856.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Stoughton, Thomas. "Glenohumeral Stiffness in Overhead Athletes Following Pitching." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1374078856

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1374078856
423
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.