Introduction: Despite being classified together as overhead athletes, the shoulders of swimmers and baseball pitchers were expected to differ in physical characteristics due to the distinctive demands placed upon their shoulders. The purpose of this study was to compare shoulder characteristics between male swimmers, pitchers, and non-overhead athletes (controls). It was hypothesized that swimmers bilateral shoulders and pitchers dominant shoulders would present adaptive changes from participation in their respective sport.
Methods: Glenohumeral range of motion (ROM), posterior shoulder tightness (PST), scapular kinematics, forward shoulder posture (FSP), and shoulder strength were compared between 15 male intercollegiate swimmers, 15 intercollegiate pitchers, and 15 controls. All subjects were free of shoulder pain. ROM and PST were measured using standard goniometer/carpenters square, and FSP was assessed using a double-square device. Strength was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer, and scapular kinematics were assessed using an electromagnetic tracking device.
Results: Pitchers dominant shoulder exhibited greater external rotation ROM, compared to their non-dominant shoulder (p= 0.049) and the controls dominant shoulder (p= 0.049). No between-group differences in internal rotation ROM and total ROM were found. Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit was greater in pitchers than in swimmers (p< 0.001) and controls (p< 0.001). External rotation gain was also greater in pitchers compared to swimmers (p=0.025). Swimmers (p= 0.002~0.004) and pitchers (p= 0.015~0.047) exhibited greater bilateral flexion ROM than controls. There were no significant between-group differences in abduction and extension ROM. PST was greater in pitchers compared to controls in supine method. No between-group or between-limb differences were found in strength variables. No between-group differences in scapular kinematic variables were found. Dominant shoulders were positioned anteriorly compared to the non-dominant shoulder (p= 0.012).
Conclusions: The results of the study demonstrated differences in shoulder characteristics among swimmers, pitchers, and controls. These differences may be due to the unique demands of each sport. The ROM characteristics (GIRD, ERG, and PST) were observed only in pitchers due to their dominant use of a unilateral limb. Between-group difference in strength, scapular kinematics, and FSP were not observed in this study. Further research and advancement in assessment techniques may reveal differences in these variables.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-08232006-082541 |
| Date | 08 September 2006 |
| Creators | Oyama, Sakiko |
| Contributors | Kevin M. Conley, Craig A. Wassinger, Joseph B. Myers |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-08232006-082541/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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