Glenohumeral Instability and Arm Pain in Overhead Throwing Athletes: A Correlational Study
# Background The overhead activity of throwing a baseball is arguably the most demanding athletic endeavor placed on the glenohumeral (GH) joint. Previous studies illustrate that 75-80% of baseball players will experience some degree of upper extremity (UE) pain. GH instability is thought to play a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
North American Sports Medicine Institute
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.39800 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823857556068499456 |
|---|---|
| author | Max Wardell Doug Creighton Carter Kovalcik |
| author_facet | Max Wardell Doug Creighton Carter Kovalcik |
| author_sort | Max Wardell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | # Background
The overhead activity of throwing a baseball is arguably the most demanding athletic endeavor placed on the glenohumeral (GH) joint. Previous studies illustrate that 75-80% of baseball players will experience some degree of upper extremity (UE) pain. GH instability is thought to play a role.
# Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between GH joint hypermobility and instability with measures of arm pain and performance in overhead throwing athletes.
# Methods
Actively competing baseball pitchers were recruited and evaluated once with the anterior-posterior Load and Shift examination procedure, the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic Shoulder and Elbow Questionnaire (KJOC), and the Functional Arm Scale for Throwers (FAST). Multivariate analysis was performed to identify correlation between severe GH capsular laxity (GH instability), mild capsular laxity (GH hypermobility), no capsular laxity (GH normal), and presence of shoulder pain when pitching.
# Study Design
Cross-sectional Study.
# Results
Forty-five pitchers were evaluated, 62.2% of throwing shoulders were classified normal stability, 26.7% were classified hypermobile, and 11.1% were classified unstable. Average KJOC scores for pitchers with the three mobility categories were 66.1 (normal), 59.7 (hypermobile), and 45.0 (unstable). Average FAST scores among the pitchers were 19.9 (normal), 34.2 (hypermobile), and 32.2 (unstable). Pitchers with GH instability and GH hypermobility demonstrated increased arm pain compared to athletes with normal GH joints; KJOC scores of 3.2, 5.5, and 7.4 (p = 0.0007), respectively.
# Conclusion
Pitchers with GH instability and hypermobility demonstrated significantly increased ratings of arm pain compared to pitchers with no capsular laxity.
# Level of Evidence
3b |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3750ed98f4bb403f9fbda98bae0dfeec |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2159-2896 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | North American Sports Medicine Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-3750ed98f4bb403f9fbda98bae0dfeec2025-02-11T20:29:49ZengNorth American Sports Medicine InstituteInternational Journal of Sports Physical Therapy2159-28962022-12-01177Glenohumeral Instability and Arm Pain in Overhead Throwing Athletes: A Correlational StudyMax WardellDoug CreightonCarter Kovalcik# Background The overhead activity of throwing a baseball is arguably the most demanding athletic endeavor placed on the glenohumeral (GH) joint. Previous studies illustrate that 75-80% of baseball players will experience some degree of upper extremity (UE) pain. GH instability is thought to play a role. # Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between GH joint hypermobility and instability with measures of arm pain and performance in overhead throwing athletes. # Methods Actively competing baseball pitchers were recruited and evaluated once with the anterior-posterior Load and Shift examination procedure, the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic Shoulder and Elbow Questionnaire (KJOC), and the Functional Arm Scale for Throwers (FAST). Multivariate analysis was performed to identify correlation between severe GH capsular laxity (GH instability), mild capsular laxity (GH hypermobility), no capsular laxity (GH normal), and presence of shoulder pain when pitching. # Study Design Cross-sectional Study. # Results Forty-five pitchers were evaluated, 62.2% of throwing shoulders were classified normal stability, 26.7% were classified hypermobile, and 11.1% were classified unstable. Average KJOC scores for pitchers with the three mobility categories were 66.1 (normal), 59.7 (hypermobile), and 45.0 (unstable). Average FAST scores among the pitchers were 19.9 (normal), 34.2 (hypermobile), and 32.2 (unstable). Pitchers with GH instability and GH hypermobility demonstrated increased arm pain compared to athletes with normal GH joints; KJOC scores of 3.2, 5.5, and 7.4 (p = 0.0007), respectively. # Conclusion Pitchers with GH instability and hypermobility demonstrated significantly increased ratings of arm pain compared to pitchers with no capsular laxity. # Level of Evidence 3bhttps://doi.org/10.26603/001c.39800 |
| spellingShingle | Max Wardell Doug Creighton Carter Kovalcik Glenohumeral Instability and Arm Pain in Overhead Throwing Athletes: A Correlational Study International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| title | Glenohumeral Instability and Arm Pain in Overhead Throwing Athletes: A Correlational Study |
| title_full | Glenohumeral Instability and Arm Pain in Overhead Throwing Athletes: A Correlational Study |
| title_fullStr | Glenohumeral Instability and Arm Pain in Overhead Throwing Athletes: A Correlational Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Glenohumeral Instability and Arm Pain in Overhead Throwing Athletes: A Correlational Study |
| title_short | Glenohumeral Instability and Arm Pain in Overhead Throwing Athletes: A Correlational Study |
| title_sort | glenohumeral instability and arm pain in overhead throwing athletes a correlational study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.39800 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maxwardell glenohumeralinstabilityandarmpaininoverheadthrowingathletesacorrelationalstudy AT dougcreighton glenohumeralinstabilityandarmpaininoverheadthrowingathletesacorrelationalstudy AT carterkovalcik glenohumeralinstabilityandarmpaininoverheadthrowingathletesacorrelationalstudy |