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Exercises Tailored to Meet the Needs of Submarine Pitchers
Title
Exercises Tailored to Meet the Needs of Submarine Pitchers.
Creator
Mullaney, Kurtis
Abstract / Description
Background: In order to remain healthy while performing at a high level, athletes must exercise in a manner that is functional and translatable to the movement being produced during sport. In order to accomplish this, exercises are often modified to meet the specific demands of different sporting activities. Purpose: Although many studies have been performed on several aspects of baseball pitching, few studies have focused on the submarine pitcher. This pilot study investigated the difference...
Show moreBackground: In order to remain healthy while performing at a high level, athletes must exercise in a manner that is functional and translatable to the movement being produced during sport. In order to accomplish this, exercises are often modified to meet the specific demands of different sporting activities. Purpose: Although many studies have been performed on several aspects of baseball pitching, few studies have focused on the submarine pitcher. This pilot study investigated the difference in the activation patterns of select muscles for subjects conducting two exercises: the cable retraction with external rotation exercise and the modified version of the same exercise, which had been tailored to the submarine pitcher. The following research was performed to advance the literature devoted to the specific needs of submarine pitchers, and to raise awareness on the lack of literature devoted to this style of throwing. Subjects: 16 healthy males ages 18-35 with previous high school, college, and/or professional baseball experience participated in this study. Methods: Each subject was observed performing five repetitions of the two exercises, while motion and muscle activation patterns of the posterior deltoid, the infraspinatus, the middle trapezius, and the lower trapezius were captured using the Qualisys Motion Capture System in conjunction with the Noraxon SEMG system. Results: No significant differences were found between the two exercises in terms of muscle activation patterns of the four muscles being studied. A positive correlation was found between the muscle activation patterns of the two exercises, indicating that both exercises may accomplish the same goal when it comes to strengthening the four targeted muscles. A significant difference was found in the angle of abduction in which peak muscle activation occurred for the posterior deltoid (13°), the middle trapezius (17°), and lower trapezius (14°).
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Date Issued
2015
Identifier
Mullaney_fgcu_1743_10120
Format
Document (PDF)
EXERCISES TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SUBMARINE PITCHERS
Title
EXERCISES TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SUBMARINE PITCHERS.
Creator
Klein, Michael
Abstract / Description
Background: In order to remain healthy while performing at a high level, athletes must exercise in a manner that is functional and translatable to the movement being produced during sport. In order to accomplish this, exercises are often modified to meet the specific demands of different sporting activities. Purpose: Although many studies have been performed on several aspects of baseball pitching, few studies have focused on the submarine pitcher. This pilot study investigated the difference...
Show moreBackground: In order to remain healthy while performing at a high level, athletes must exercise in a manner that is functional and translatable to the movement being produced during sport. In order to accomplish this, exercises are often modified to meet the specific demands of different sporting activities. Purpose: Although many studies have been performed on several aspects of baseball pitching, few studies have focused on the submarine pitcher. This pilot study investigated the difference in the activation patterns of select muscles for subjects conducting two exercises: the cable retraction with external rotation exercise and the modified version of the same exercise, which had been tailored to the submarine pitcher. The following research was performed to advance the literature devoted to the specific needs of submarine pitchers, and to raise awareness on the lack of literature devoted to this style of throwing. Subjects: 16 healthy males ages 18-35 with previous high school, college, and/or professional baseball experience participated in this study. Methods: Each subject was observed performing five repetitions of the two exercises, while motion and muscle activation patterns of the posterior deltoid, the infraspinatus, the middle trapezius, and the lower trapezius were captured using the Qualisys Motion Capture System in conjunction with the Noraxon SEMG system. Results: No significant differences were found between the two exercises in terms of muscle activation patterns of the four muscles being studied. A positive correlation was found between the muscle activation patterns of the two exercises, indicating that both exercises may accomplish the same goal when it comes to strengthening the four targeted muscles. A significant difference was found in the angle of abduction in which peak muscle activation occurred for the posterior deltoid (13°), the middle trapezius (17°), and lower trapezius (14°).
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Date Issued
2015
Identifier
Klein_fgcu_1743_10122
Format
Document (PDF)
Shoulder Strength and Conditioning for Injury Prevention in Baseball Players
Title
Shoulder Strength and Conditioning for Injury Prevention in Baseball Players.
Creator
Jones, Kevin Thomas
Abstract / Description
According to a survey completed by the National Federation of State High School Associations, baseball is the third most popular boys sport played. In the 2012-2013 year season, 15,632 schools played high school baseball across America. These schools' teams were comprised of 474,791 student athletes. A recent study reports that 63.3% of injuries in high school baseball are to the upper extremity. (Shanley, Rauh, Michener, & Ellenbecker, 2011). Bonza, Fields, Yard, and Comstock (2009) reported...
Show moreAccording to a survey completed by the National Federation of State High School Associations, baseball is the third most popular boys sport played. In the 2012-2013 year season, 15,632 schools played high school baseball across America. These schools' teams were comprised of 474,791 student athletes. A recent study reports that 63.3% of injuries in high school baseball are to the upper extremity. (Shanley, Rauh, Michener, & Ellenbecker, 2011). Bonza, Fields, Yard, and Comstock (2009) reported that 17.7% of high school baseball players injure their shoulders. This is a greatest percentage of injuries among baseball players. It is for this reason that shoulder injury prevention is of the upmost importance for baseball pitchers. This following scholarly paper provides a review of the phases of the baseball pitch including the structural and muscular requirements of each phase. The paper also reviews current literature used to produce an evidence based shoulder strength and conditioning program that may be implemented by institutions with limited financial resources, limited facilities, and without a qualified strength and conditioning professional. The case report describes how this program was implemented as part of the overall strength and conditioning program used during the fall baseball season at Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA. The development of the shoulder strength and condition program took into account current research as well as the financial and equipment limitations, availability of qualified strength and conditioning professionals, and training time allotted for the strength and conditioning of National Junior College Athletic Association student athletes.
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Date Issued
2014
Identifier
Jones_fgcu_1743_10060
Format
Document (PDF)
The Use of Ultrasound Imaging in Assessing UCL Width for College Baseball Pitchers
Title
The Use of Ultrasound Imaging in Assessing UCL Width for College Baseball Pitchers.
Creator
Smith, Brandon
Abstract / Description
Context: Injuries to the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) of the elbow are common in overhead throwing athletes. A repetitive valgus force during the throwing motion places significant stress on the UCL. More research needs to be conducted to investigate new methods to assess potential thickening of the anterior bundle of the UCL, in order to understand ligament changes that may occur throughout the season. Objective: To examine the reliability of measuring the width of the UCL throughout a...
Show moreContext: Injuries to the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) of the elbow are common in overhead throwing athletes. A repetitive valgus force during the throwing motion places significant stress on the UCL. More research needs to be conducted to investigate new methods to assess potential thickening of the anterior bundle of the UCL, in order to understand ligament changes that may occur throughout the season. Objective: To examine the reliability of measuring the width of the UCL throughout a constant valgus force by means of ultrasound imaging by a novice student physical therapist, and to determine the presence of any differences in ligament width between the two measurement dates within the season. Design: Quasi-experimental quantitative repeated measures design. Participants: Thirteen Division I college men’s baseball pitchers participated with a mean age of 20.4 ± 1.45 SD years (range, 18 to 23) and body mass index (BMI) 24.56 ± 1.78 SD (range, 21.9 to 27.6). Methods: Ultrasound images were obtained of the UCL on the participant’s throwing arm using a GE LOGIQ E ultrasound unit. Participants were placed in supine with a wedge placed underneath their hand to maintain their elbow at a 30 degree angle. A 3 kg valgus force measured by a hand held dynamometer was applied 20 centimeters distal to the medial epicondyle to maintain a constant 5 Nm valgus stress among participants. The anterior band of the UCL was imaged at the beginning of the baseball season then again the following month. Three images were measured during each session. The post imaging measurements were performed at the mid substance and the apex of the trochlea and conducted by a single novice third year student physical therapist with two 30 minute training sessions using the ultrasound unit. Results: Intra-rater reliability as expressed by ICC (3, 3) was .929 & .935 for the apex of trochlea measurement site and .861 & .920 for the mid-substance measurement site, indicating excellent intra-rater reliability. There was no statistically significant difference between the measurements obtained on the two testing dates (Apex of mean width 2.90mm & 2.92mm; t= -.155; p ≥ ≥0.5) and (Mid-substance mean width 4.49 mm & 4.44 mm; t= .571; p ≥ ≥0.5) Conclusions: This study demonstrated that a novice ultrasound imaging operator with minimal training can reliably measure the width of the anterior band of the UCL. There was also no significant difference in UCL width from the beginning of the season and one-month into the season. Further research is recommended to perform multiple imagining sessions throughout the year to determine the long term physiological effects of overhead throwing on the anterior band of the UCL and to study the connection between UCL width changes, tissue quality, and injury risk.
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Date Issued
2016
Identifier
Smith__fgcu_1743_10206
Format
Document (PDF)
ULTRASOUND IMAGING TO EVALUATE ACUTE ADAPTATIONS OF THE MEDIAL ELBOW JOINT COMPLEX IN COLLEGE BASEBALL PITCHERS
Title
ULTRASOUND IMAGING TO EVALUATE ACUTE ADAPTATIONS OF THE MEDIAL ELBOW JOINT COMPLEX IN COLLEGE BASEBALL PITCHERS.
Creator
Lynch, Kevin Patrick
Abstract / Description
Musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging (MSKUI) has become an increasing studied assessment tool in orthopedic sports medicine. Several studies have investigated ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) integrity and morphology in the throwing arm of baseball players with MSKUI. Research data has indicated that UCL thickening and medial joint space (MJS) widening occurs in athletes during sustained competition. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine acute UCL thickness and MJS adaptations in the...
Show moreMusculoskeletal ultrasound imaging (MSKUI) has become an increasing studied assessment tool in orthopedic sports medicine. Several studies have investigated ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) integrity and morphology in the throwing arm of baseball players with MSKUI. Research data has indicated that UCL thickening and medial joint space (MJS) widening occurs in athletes during sustained competition. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine acute UCL thickness and MJS adaptations in the throwing arm of Division I collegiate baseball pitchers with MSKUI following one in-game performance. Methods: This was a non-experimental descriptive quantitative repeated measures study in which ten NCAA Division I collegiate baseball pitchers (mean age 20.4 ± 1.4 yrs) with no history of significant upper extremity injuries participated. Musculoskeletal ultrasound images were obtained with a GE LOGIQ e ultrasound unit before and immediately after (< 15 minutes) pitching performance during each subject’s first game of the season. A 3 kg valgus force was applied with a handheld dynamometer (Hoggan Scientific microFET 2) 20 cm distal to the medial epicondyle of the throwing arm during imaging. Post-imaging ligament thickness measurements were performed at the mid-substance of UCL and at the apex of the trochlea. Post-imaging MJS width measurements were performed from the apex of the trochlea to the apex of the ulna. Maximum power Doppler imaging quantification (PDIQ) ratios were also assessed to measure localized perfusion changes. Changes in UCL thickness (mid-substance and apex of the trochlea), MJS width, max PDIQ ratio, along with mid-substance to trochlea ratio and the PDIQ area assessed were analyzed using paired samples t-tests. Results: There was no significant difference in mid-substance UCL thickness width before (5.72 ± 0.7mm) and after performance (5.70 ± 0.7mm; t (9)= .36, p = .73). With respect to apex of trochlea UCL thickness, no significant differences were found before (2.67 ± 0.7mm) and after (2.61 ± 0.6mm; t (9)= 1.30, p = .23) performance. When assessing MJS, a significant change of ~4% was observed before (6.30 ± 1.5mm) and after (6.60 ± 1.5mm; t (9)= -3.70; p= .005). There was no significant difference in max PDIQ ratio before (.08 ± .06) and after (.22 ± .29; t (9)= -1.37; p= .20) performance. Controlling for the pitch count [F (1,9) = .17, p = .69], innings pitched [F (1,9) = .06, p = .81], and change in max PDIQ ratio [F (1,9) = .18, p = .68] did not affect change in MJS. Discussion: While there was a significant change in MJS, there were no significant UCL thickness changes following first competitive play of the season. Increase in MJS width is likely attributed to increased tissue extensibility due to temperature and circulation increases during sport participation but more research is needed to explore this relationship. Conclusion: A significant MJS widening did occur after one pitching outing at the start of the season; whereas, no changes were observed in UCL thickness measured at two different locations or in local perfusion as measured by PDIQ. Further research is needed to understand the etiology of increased medial elbow joint widening in pitchers following competition at the start of the collegiate baseball season.
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Date Issued
2018-07-19
Identifier
fgcu_ETD_0247
Format
Document (PDF)