Relationship Between Shoulder Rotation Strength and Upper Extremity Functional Assessments in Collegiate Baseball Players
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: In overhead throwing sports such as baseball and softball, upper extremity injuries are prevalent at both collegiate and high school levels. Currently, there is no universal assessment protocol to identify athletes at risk for injury or to determine their re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/120 |
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| author | Andy Waldhelm Jaclyn Aida Jackson Boyd Garrett Chandler Matthew Demboski Caroline Monson Neil Schwarz |
| author_facet | Andy Waldhelm Jaclyn Aida Jackson Boyd Garrett Chandler Matthew Demboski Caroline Monson Neil Schwarz |
| author_sort | Andy Waldhelm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives</b>: In overhead throwing sports such as baseball and softball, upper extremity injuries are prevalent at both collegiate and high school levels. Currently, there is no universal assessment protocol to identify athletes at risk for injury or to determine their readiness to return to sport. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between shoulder internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) isometric strength in a throwing position and three upper extremity functional tests among collegiate baseball players. It was hypothesized that there would not be significant correlations between shoulder IR and ER peak isometric force and the following functional assessments: the Upper Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-UQ), seated single-arm shot put, and Closed Kinematic Chain Upper Extremity Strength Test (CKCUEST). <b>Methods</b>: Forty healthy collegiate baseball players volunteered for the study. After completing a self-guided warm-up, participants performed bilateral isometric shoulder IR and ER strength tests at 90 degrees of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion, followed by the three functional tests in random order. Relationships were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r), with a significance level set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. <b>Results</b>: Correlations were generally low, ranging from r = 0.001 to r = 0.551. Significant correlations were observed between the CKCUEST and dominant IR strength (r = 0.345, <i>p</i> = 0.031), dominant ER strength (r = 0.407, <i>p</i> = 0.010), and non-dominant ER strength (r = 0.551, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Additionally, a significant correlation was found between the dominant ER/IR strength ratio and the dominant arm superolateral reach on the YBT-UQ (r = −0.352, <i>p</i> = 0.026). No significant correlations were identified between isometric shoulder strength and the single-arm shot put. <b>Conclusions</b>: Most correlations were low to moderate, and only significant correlations between shoulder rotation isometric strength and one direction of the YBT-UQ and the CKCUEST were observed. Thus, shoulder rotation strength in a position similar to the cocking phase of overhead throwing may be valuable for return-to-sport criteria and injury screening for overhead athletes. However, further research is needed to validate these findings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4b413a88fe484e34894bba10a596689b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2411-5142 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-4b413a88fe484e34894bba10a596689b2025-08-20T02:21:03ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422025-04-0110212010.3390/jfmk10020120Relationship Between Shoulder Rotation Strength and Upper Extremity Functional Assessments in Collegiate Baseball PlayersAndy Waldhelm0Jaclyn Aida1Jackson Boyd2Garrett Chandler3Matthew Demboski4Caroline Monson5Neil Schwarz6School of Physical Therapy, South College, 400 Goody Lane, Knoxville, TN 37922, USADepartment of Physical Therapy, University of South Alabama, 5121 USA Dr. North, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Physical Therapy, University of South Alabama, 5121 USA Dr. North, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Physical Therapy, University of South Alabama, 5121 USA Dr. North, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Physical Therapy, University of South Alabama, 5121 USA Dr. North, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Physical Therapy, University of South Alabama, 5121 USA Dr. North, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Health, Kinesiology, and Sports, University of South Alabama, 171 Student Services Drive, HKS 1016, Mobile, AL 36688, USA<b>Background/Objectives</b>: In overhead throwing sports such as baseball and softball, upper extremity injuries are prevalent at both collegiate and high school levels. Currently, there is no universal assessment protocol to identify athletes at risk for injury or to determine their readiness to return to sport. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between shoulder internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) isometric strength in a throwing position and three upper extremity functional tests among collegiate baseball players. It was hypothesized that there would not be significant correlations between shoulder IR and ER peak isometric force and the following functional assessments: the Upper Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-UQ), seated single-arm shot put, and Closed Kinematic Chain Upper Extremity Strength Test (CKCUEST). <b>Methods</b>: Forty healthy collegiate baseball players volunteered for the study. After completing a self-guided warm-up, participants performed bilateral isometric shoulder IR and ER strength tests at 90 degrees of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion, followed by the three functional tests in random order. Relationships were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r), with a significance level set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. <b>Results</b>: Correlations were generally low, ranging from r = 0.001 to r = 0.551. Significant correlations were observed between the CKCUEST and dominant IR strength (r = 0.345, <i>p</i> = 0.031), dominant ER strength (r = 0.407, <i>p</i> = 0.010), and non-dominant ER strength (r = 0.551, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Additionally, a significant correlation was found between the dominant ER/IR strength ratio and the dominant arm superolateral reach on the YBT-UQ (r = −0.352, <i>p</i> = 0.026). No significant correlations were identified between isometric shoulder strength and the single-arm shot put. <b>Conclusions</b>: Most correlations were low to moderate, and only significant correlations between shoulder rotation isometric strength and one direction of the YBT-UQ and the CKCUEST were observed. Thus, shoulder rotation strength in a position similar to the cocking phase of overhead throwing may be valuable for return-to-sport criteria and injury screening for overhead athletes. However, further research is needed to validate these findings.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/120baseballreturn-to-sport assessmentupper extremity injuriesoverhead sports |
| spellingShingle | Andy Waldhelm Jaclyn Aida Jackson Boyd Garrett Chandler Matthew Demboski Caroline Monson Neil Schwarz Relationship Between Shoulder Rotation Strength and Upper Extremity Functional Assessments in Collegiate Baseball Players Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology baseball return-to-sport assessment upper extremity injuries overhead sports |
| title | Relationship Between Shoulder Rotation Strength and Upper Extremity Functional Assessments in Collegiate Baseball Players |
| title_full | Relationship Between Shoulder Rotation Strength and Upper Extremity Functional Assessments in Collegiate Baseball Players |
| title_fullStr | Relationship Between Shoulder Rotation Strength and Upper Extremity Functional Assessments in Collegiate Baseball Players |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationship Between Shoulder Rotation Strength and Upper Extremity Functional Assessments in Collegiate Baseball Players |
| title_short | Relationship Between Shoulder Rotation Strength and Upper Extremity Functional Assessments in Collegiate Baseball Players |
| title_sort | relationship between shoulder rotation strength and upper extremity functional assessments in collegiate baseball players |
| topic | baseball return-to-sport assessment upper extremity injuries overhead sports |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/120 |
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