Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

The Intra- And Inter-Rater Reliability Of An Arm Care Screening Tool In High School Baseball Coaches, Kyle A. Matsel, Stephanie N. Brown, Matthew C. Hoch, Robert J. Butler, Philip M. Westgate, Terry R. Malone, Timothy L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Preseason movement screening can identify modifiable risk factors, deterioration of function, and potential for injury in baseball players. Limited resources and time intensive testing procedures prevent high school coaches from accurately performing frequent movement screens on their players.

Purpose: To establish the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of a novel arm care screening tool based on the concepts of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA™) in high school coaches.

Study Design: Methodological intra- and inter-rater reliability study.

Methods: Thirty-one male high school baseball players (15.9 years ± 1.06) were independently scored on the Arm Care …

A Nation-Wide Survey Of High School Baseball Coaches’ Perceptions Indicates Their Arm Care Programs Play A Role In Injury Prevention, Kyle A. Matsel, E. E. Weiss, R. J. Butler, Matthew C. Hoch, Philip M. Westgate, Terry R. Malone, Timothy L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background
Arm care programs consisting of upper extremity strengthening and stretching have been recommended for injury prevention for pitchers of all ages. There has been no investigation into high school baseball coaches’ usage and perceptions of arm care programs to mitigate physical impairments associated with injuries in baseball players.

Hypothesis/Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the current usage of arm care programs by high school baseball coaches. The primary objective was to determine if coaches use group-based or individualized arm care programs. The secondary objective sought to determine if the use of arm care programs is influenced …

Injury Rates In Major League Baseball During The 2020 Covid-19 Season, Brooks N. Platt, Timothy L. Uhl, Aaron D. Sciascia, Anthony J. Zacharias, Nicole G. Lemaster, Austin V. Stone

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: The 2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) season was drastically altered because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes included an extended layoff between March and July as well as a shortened preseason.

Purpose/Hypothesis: To determine the incidence and epidemiology of MLB injuries in the abbreviated 2020 season compared with prior seasons. We hypothesized that there was an increase in the overall injury rate in the 2020 season compared with the 2018-2019 seasons and that it equally affected all body regions.

Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods: The MLB transactions database was queried to find players who had been placed on …

Side-To-Differences Of Medial Elbow Anatomy Adaptations In Youth Throwing Athletes, Rudolph Matthew Morrow

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Injuries to the medial elbow are common in overhead sports, with the most common occurring at the medial/ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Injury to the UCL is associated with elbow joint laxity which tends to develop over time in athletes who place their elbows under chronic valgus forces like those present during throwing. ^{27, 37} This instability is well documented in professional, collegiate, and high school athletes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the medial elbow joint width and common flexor tendon thickness in the arms of youth baseball players. The hypotheses were (1) the …

Development Of A Field Expedient Screening Tool For The Coach To Identify Musculoskeletal Risk Factors In Baseball Players, Kyle Andrew Matsel

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Identification of musculoskeletal (MSK) injury risk factors in baseball players can be challenging particularly for youth and high school coaches. Many baseball coaches lack a sports medicine and/or strength and conditioning staff to assist with injury prevention initiatives. Given the extensive responsibilities in managing the team and preparing the players for athletic competition, little time remains to focus on injury prevention and arm care programs. Furthermore, assessment, diagnosis, and management of MSK impairments is outside the scope of practice and expertise of baseball coaches. However, educating and empowering the coach to efficiently screen their players for potentially injury producing MSK …

Return-To-Play And Competitive Outcomes After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction Among Baseball Players: A Systematic Review, Stephen J. Thomas, Ryan W. Paul, Adam B. Rosen, Sam J. Wilkins, Joseph Scheidt, John D. Kelly Iv, Ryan L. Crotin

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Papers

Background: Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction (UCLR) is very common in baseball. However, no review has compared the return-to-play (RTP) and in-game performance statistics of pitchers after primary and revision UCLR as well as of position players after UCLR.

Purpose: To review, synthesize, and evaluate the published literature on outcomes after UCLR in baseball players to determine RTP and competitive outcomes among various populations of baseball players.

Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: A literature search including studies between 1980 and November 4, 2019, was conducted for articles that included the following terms: ulnar collateral ligament, elbow, …

Comparison Of Pitching From Flat Ground Vs. 10-Inch Mound Regarding Elbow Varus Torque And Arm Speed, Stephen A. Cage, X. Neil Dong, Brandon J. Warner, Diana M. Gallegos

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of throwing surface and distance on varus elbow torque and arm speed. Methods: 11 male collegiate baseball pitchers (age = 20.73 ± 1.56 years, height = 175.26 ± 9.03 cm, mass = 70.31 ± 9.03 kg) participated in this study. Varus elbow torque and distance were measured using a 3D motion sensor housed in a spandex sleeve at the medial joint line of the elbow. Participants were instructed to complete their normal warmup routine as if they were about to pitch in a bullpen session or a game. Participants …

The Effects Of Therabands On Collegiate Pitchers Rotator Cuff, Caleb Bissette

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

This study looks at the effects that the rab and shave on the strength and mobility in the dominant rotator cuff of a collegiate pitcher. Collegiate pitchers should strengthen their rotator cuff muscles in order to prevent injuries. Injuries to the rotatorcuff could be season-ending and require surgery for repair. In order to prevent a pitchers chances of getting surgery, they need to find away to strengthen those muscles and make them more mobile. Therabands are a great way to increase strength and mobility in the rotator cuff.

Kinesiology Of A Baseball Swing, C.J. White, Brody Rollins, Jack Hoey

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

The purpose of this analysis is to provide feedback of optimal swing analytics that will produce maximal force and the best results in a sport setting.

Examining The Relationship Between Throwing Injuries Sustained In Adolescent Baseball Players And Use Of An Injury Prevention Smartphone Application "Throw Like A Pro", David S. Grove

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Objective: To describe the use rate of the injury prevention smartphone app “Throw Like a Pro” (TLP), and determine the relationship between use of the app and throwing injuries in adolescent baseball players.

Design and Setting: The smartphone application TLP was distributed to adolescent baseball players. Instruction was given on correct use of the application. Stretches, exercises, and application features were demonstrated to subjects. Data on use and injuries was compiled through self-reported surveys.

Subjects: A convenience sample of adolescent baseball players (n=20) aged 13-18 from the Babe Ruth Little League organization in Missoula, Montana were selected.

Measurements: A modified …

Humeral Retrotorsion In Developing Children And Its Relationship To Throwing Sports, Elliot M. Greenberg

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Baseball players exhibit a more posteriorly oriented humeral head or humeral retrotorsion (HRT) in the dominant arm, likely representing an adaptive response to the stress of throwing. This adaptation is thought to occur while skeletally immature, however there is limited research detailing how throwing while young influences the development HRT. In addition, it is currently unclear how this changing osseous orientation influences shoulder motion within young athletes. Purpose: To determine the influence of throwing and age on the development of asymmetry in HRT and shoulder range of motion (ROM); and analyze the relationship between HRT and ROM. Study Design: …

Increasing Ball Velocity In The Overhead Athlete: A Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Natalie L. Myers, Aaron D. Sciascia, Philip M. Westgate, William B. Kibler, Tim L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Overhead athletes routinely search for ways to improve sport performance, and one component of performance is ball velocity. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of different strengthening interventions on ball and serve velocity. A comprehensive literature search with pre-set inclusion and exclusion criteria from 1970 to 2014 was conducted. Eligible studies were randomized control trials including the mean and SDs of both pretest and posttest ball velocities in both the experimental and the control groups. The outcome of interest was ball/serve velocity in baseball, tennis, or softball athletes. Level 2 evidence or higher was investigated …

Spondylolysis And Spondylolisthesis In Baseball Athletes: Five Casereports, Chun-Yao Yu, Hsiao-Yun Chang, Chuan-Chao Lin, Yi-Luen Hung, Su-Ju Tsai

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Low back pain is one of the commonest complaints of young athletes who visit the physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient department. Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are frequent causes of low back pain in young athletes. The pain in these conditions is exacerbated by lumbar extension and relieved by rest. Although genetic predisposition plays an important role in the development of pars defect, certain activities involving lumbar hyperextension and rotation movements result in spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis.From December 2005 to March 2009, there were five baseball athletes who visited our outpatient department because of low back pain. The diagnosis was grade I spondylolisthesis …

Biomechanical Analysis Of The Upper Extremity During Multiple Softball Pitches, Amy Bookkless, Katelyn Bottelberghe, Tara Petersen

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: There are a large number of fast pitch softball participants including high school, college, Olympic, professional and recreational leagues. While a large number of studies describe the baseball pitch, there is a shortage of studies describing the windmill softball pitch. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to utilize electromyography (EMG) and motion analysis to determine the biomechanical factors of muscle recruitment, shoulder and elbow range of motion and joint velocities during the windmill softball pitch.

Subjects: Five Division II women's fast pitch softball pitchers, mean age 19 years, were included in the study. The player's pitching experience averaged …

In-Season Functional Shoulder Training For High School Baseball Pitchers, Jason Brumitt, Erik Meira, Greg Davidson

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

The overhead throwing motion is used in numerous sports including track, football, and baseball. Among these sports, the baseball pitch is unique in the demands placed upon the shoulder. The forces created in the shoulder can potentially lead to pathology affecting the athlete's career. To enhance performance and decrease the risk of injury, it is important that the athlete participate in a year-round periodized program. Inappropriate or deficient training combined with the stress that the shoulder experiences during a season can lead to strains, impingement, tendon or labral tears, and instabilities.

A Comparison Of The Effects On Throwing Velocity Of Straight Plane Versus Diagonal Plane Shoulder Exercises On 18-30 Year Old Non-Athletes, Jason Allred, Kevin O'Brien, Peter Tran

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in throwing velocity exhibited by subjects placed in a straight-line resistance-training group, a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) resistance-training group, and a control group in order to compare benefits between training programs. Subjects were comprised of 42 college students between the ages of 18 and 30. The subjects were placed in one of the three experimental groups (straight-line resistance-training, PNF resistance training, and control) using Theraband™ elastic tubing. Each subject's overhand throwing velocity was measured on two separate occasions separated by 8-weeks of training. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was used to …

Etiology And Treatment Of Rotator Cuff Injuries In Baseball Pitchers, Jeff Breyen

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Rotator cuff injury is one of the most common shoulder problems seen in the baseball pitchers today. The rotator cuff is the primary dynamic stabilizer of the glenohumeral joint and is placed under significant stress during each pitch the player delivers to the plate. Rotator cuff injury and dysfunction in the baseball pitcher may be classified based on etiology as primary impingement, primary tensile overload, instability, and macrotrauma.

The shoulder is a complex joint and proper treatment relies on the physical therapist's knowledge of the anatomy and function of all of the involved structures about the shoulder. The therapist must …

Safe At The Shoulder, Daniel Cipriani

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

The key to preventing shoulder injuries is understanding the anatomy of the shoulder complex and how the body's other muscles affect the throwing motion

Literature Review And Critique Of Shoulder Training Programs For Increasing Throwing Velocity Of The Baseball Pitcher, Ronald K. Mimaki

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this independent study is a literature review of the principles of training and a critique of the shoulder strength training programs for increasing the throwing velocity of the baseball pitcher. In addition, a sport specific movement analysis, based on biomechanics, physiology and kinesiology of the baseball overhand pitch will be examined. The critique will be based on the principles of training reviewed earlier and a sport specific movement analysis. Finally, a proposal of a potential training program and possible topics for research will be discussed.