Anterior Shoulder Forces in Professional and Little League Pitchers

作者:Ramappa Arun J; Chen Po Hao; Hawkins Richard J; Noonan Tom; Hackett Tom; Sabick Michelle B; Decker Michael J; Keeley David; Torry Michael R*
来源:Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, 2010, 30(1): 1-7.
DOI:10.1097/BPO.0b013e3181c87ca2

摘要

Background: The developing musculoskeletal system of a youth pitcher is substantially different from that of the adult professional pitcher, predisposing the younger players to a different set of injuries.
Methods: High-speed videography of 39 professional and 13 youth pitchers were obtained. High-speed motion analysis was performed to calculate average anterior forces and arm positions at maximal force generation.
Results: Professional players generated an average of 33.8 +/- 14.4 N/kg maximal anterior force, corresponding to 151.9 +/- 17.0 degrees of external rotation. Youth pitchers generated 16.2 +/- 3.8 N/kg of anterior forces, corresponding to 118.0 +/- 23.4 degrees of external rotation. The degree of coronal abduction and horizontal abduction between the 2 groups were not significantly different-92.4 +/- 9.0 degrees in professionals versus 91.7 +/- 7.9 degrees in the youth and 11.1 +/- 11.1 degrees of horizontal abduction in professionals versus 7.8 +/- 14.1 degrees in the younger throwers. Professional pitchers exerted higher internal rotation torque at 19.4 +/- 4.1 Nm/kg versus 5.6 +/- 1.0 Nm/kg in youth, and compressive forces were found to be 121.7 +/- 21.7 N/kg in professional pitchers compared with 47.5 +/- 7.6 N/kg in the youth pitchers.
Conclusions: Youth pitchers experience significant anterior shoulder forces and internal rotation torques, although these are lower than professional pitchers.
Clinical Relevance: Overhead throwing as a youth can lead to shoulder injuries and can predispose the shoulder to more significant injuries as an adult pitcher.

  • 出版日期2010-2