Overhead athlete

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of glenohumeral internal (IR) and external rotation (ER), horizontal adduction (HA), and thoracic spine rotation ranges of motion (ROM), isometric muscle strength of the shoulder rotators, and trunk muscle endurance with the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST), the Upper Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-UQ), and the Upper Limb Rotation Test (ULRT) in overhead athletes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study...

IMPORTANCE: Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (PTRCTs) commonly affect overhead athletes, leading to a decline in sports performance. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is being explored as an alternative treatment modality for individuals with PTRCTs, to reduce discomfort and enhance functional recovery. We conducted a systematic review study of randomized controlled clinical trials to determine the effectiveness of PRP in treating PTRCTs. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of PRP in treating PTRCTs...

First rib stress fractures are uncommon in athletes and diagnosis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion. Diagnostic delay may increase risk of poor healing and long-term complications. Case reports and series describe these injuries primarily in overhead athletes; proposed contributing factors include anatomic susceptibility to stress and repetitive opposing muscular forces. We describe an ice hockey goalie with acute-on-chronic thoracic back pain who was found to have a first rib stress fracture, which to our knowledge is the first reported in this sport...

INTRODUCTION: This research aims to determine the effects of an integrative warm-up method on the range of motion in joints of the lower extremities, the strength of the stabilizer trunk muscles, and the quality of the basic movement patterns in older adolescents. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 88 male students (age 20.1 ± 0.5). They were randomly divided into four groups: one control group (CG) ( n  = 17; 180.8 ± 7...

PURPOSE: To perform a systematic review evaluating clinical outcomes in patients undergoing medial ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (MUCLR) with soft tissue allograft. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The primary outcomes evaluated were patient-reported outcome scores, return to play (RTP) rates, incidence of postoperative complications, and rates of graft rupture or mechanical failure...

BACKGROUND: A strong body of literature has been published outlining muscle activity differences during sports performance in groups of overhead athletes. However, there are limited studies that have directly compared the muscle activity in overhead athletes with and without history of shoulder injury during functional everyday tasks. PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify muscle activities across fourteen upper extremity and core muscles during three functional everyday movements in athletes with and without history of shoulder injury...

Pediatric avulsion fractures most commonly occur at sites of secondary ossification and are often associated with chronic stress from repetitive movements. Because of a variety of risk factors, youth athletes place higher stress on ossification centers, and their activities may predispose them to injury. This case report describes a 12-year-old female softball player who presented with pain at the distal acromion, worsened by her overhead throwing motion. Further questioning revealed improper throwing mechanics placing extenuated stress on the shoulder...

Athletes engaging in overhead activities often face injury risks, emphasising the need for reliable assessment tools. This study focused on the translation and psychometric evaluation of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (KJOC) Shoulder and Elbow Score into Greek (Gr-KJOC) for assessing upper limb function in Greek-speaking overhead athletes. The Gr-KJOC underwent meticulous translation and adaptation processes, ensuring linguistic equivalence and cultural relevance. A sample of 60 athletes participated in the psychometric evaluation, including assessments of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and structural validity...

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the influence of core muscle training (CMT) on throwing ball velocity among overhead throwing athletes. DESIGN: A literature search was performed from inception to July 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of CMT on overhead throwing ball velocity. The primary outcome was the change in standing throwing ball velocity. The secondary outcome focused on the enhancement of step/jump throwing ball velocity...

BACKGROUND: Alterations in glenohumeral internal rotation (GIR), glenohumeral external rotation (GER), and total range of motion (TROM) have been linked with increased injury risk. GER capacity has been measured routinely with the forearm in neutral rotation (GERN), but a recent study reported GERN was greater than GER with the forearm in pronation (GERP) in Minor League pitchers. This work has not yet been replicated or extended to other groups. HYPOTHESIS: GERP would be significantly less than GERN in Independent League baseball pitchers, and there would be no difference in GERP or GERN measurements between this new group and the previous group of Minor League pitchers...

BACKGROUND: Autograft palmaris has been the primary choice for the reconstruction of the medial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in the elbow. Agenesis of the palmaris tendon is not rare, and outcomes of allograft reconstruction in the breadth of athlete types found in the adolescent population are lacking. HYPOTHESIS: Allograft tendon reconstruction of the medial UCL in the young elbow would have low failure rates and satisfactory outcome scores. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4...

Overhead athletics require strenuous shoulder activity in nonneutral cervical spine positions to eccentrically decelerate the throwing/striking arm following ball release/contact. Therefore, we aimed to compare eccentric shoulder rotation strength through a 90° arc between neutral and rotated positions. 52 participants (19M,34F170±10cm;73±18kg,21.9±2.9years) without shoulder or cervical spine pathology participated. Isokinetic eccentric shoulder rotation strength was measured through a 90° arc with shoulder elevated 90° in frontal plane (frontal plane), and 45° anterior to the frontal plane (scapular plane) in neutral and rotated cervical spine positions...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the rate and timing of return to play in overhead athletes following operative management of anterior shoulder instability. METHODS: A systematic literature search based on PRISMA guidelines, utilizing the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and The Cochrane Library Databases. Eligible for inclusion were clinical studies reporting on return to play among overhead athletes following arthroscopic Bankart repair, open Latarjet procedure or Remplissage procedure...

OBJECTIVE: To systematically scope the literature on posterior shoulder tightness (PST) and define a therapist-instructed and therapist-administered management framework. DESIGN: Scoping review. LITERATURE SEARCH: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus and Google Scholar from inception to December 2021. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: Peer-reviewed studies written in English, French, Greek, Japanese or Tamil, with extractable pre- and post-intervention data...

Osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum is debilitating and is a potentially sports career-ending injury in a young and athletic population. Osteochondritis dissecans typically occurs in patients between the ages of 10 and 24 years, and boys are more commonly affected than girls. Conventional radiographs have low diagnostic accuracy, and magnetic resonance imaging (with or without contrast) or computed tomography may aid in accurate diagnosis. The primary indication for non-operative treatment is the presence of an intact cartilage cap on magnetic resonance imaging, indicating a "stable lesion...

The effects of IT and R.I.C.E. treatment on arm muscle performance in overhead athletes with elbow pain (EP) have been partially validated. However, there is a lack of research evidence regarding the efficacy of these two methods on arm muscle performance among swimmers with EP. The aim of this study was to investigate the trends and differences in the effects of IT and R.I.C.E. treatment on arm muscle performance among swimmers with EP. The main outcomes were the time effects and group effects of interventions on muscle voluntary contraction (MVC)...

BACKGROUND: Prevention of pitching-related elbow pain in youth baseball players is important. Overhead pitching involves a whole-body motion, including head-neck rotation. A limited range of motion of head-neck rotation may cause inefficient pitching motion; however, this association is unclear. PURPOSE: To determine whether the range of motion of head-neck rotation is associated with the history of pitching-related elbow pain in youth baseball players. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3...

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy is the most reported shoulder disorder in the general population with highest prevalence in overhead athletes and adult working-age population. A growing body of evidence support exercise therapy as an effective intervention, but to date there are no prospective randomized controlled trials addressing pain as an intervention variable. METHODS: A single-site, prospective, pragmatic, assessor-blinded randomized controlled superiority trial...

CONTEXT: Tennis-specific musculoskeletal (MSK) screening can assess range of motion (ROM) and muscular imbalances. Identifying normative values before implementing a MSK screen is essential in contributing to athlete performance and injury risk profiles. OBJECTIVE: To review upper extremity MSK data in healthy tennis players across age, sex, and level of play. DATA SOURCE: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed for this review...

BACKGROUND: Severe bipolar bone loss (BBL) represents one of the toughest challenges when managing the instability of glenohumeral joints among athletes and more specifically the ones involved in overhead sports. It refers to the significant loss of the humeral head and the glenoid bone, with an increased risk of failure. The present study aimed to evaluate the functional outcomes of a combined open Latarjet and arthroscopic remplissage in such high-risk individuals. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation was carried out among athletes with antero-inferior loss of glenoid bone of more than 15 % and large off-track Hill-Sachs defect who underwent the Latarjet technique with iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) harvest used in combination with arthroscopic remplissage between 2021 and 2023...