Relationship between Standing Trunk Extension Angle and Medial Elbow Injuries in Young Baseball Pitchers

Megumi Gonno, Noriyuki Kida, Teruo Nomura, Tomoyuki Matsui, Yoshikazu Azuma, Machiko Hiramoto, Ruo Hashimoto, Tetsuya Miyazaki, Maki Tanaka, Yuya Watanabe, Yoshihiro Kai and Toru Morihara
Additional contact information
Megumi Gonno: Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, 1 Hashikami-cho, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
Noriyuki Kida: Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
Teruo Nomura: Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
Tomoyuki Matsui: Marutamachi Rehabilitation Clinic, Kyoto 604-8405, Japan
Yoshikazu Azuma: Marutamachi Rehabilitation Clinic, Kyoto 604-8405, Japan
Machiko Hiramoto: Marutamachi Rehabilitation Clinic, Kyoto 604-8405, Japan
Ruo Hashimoto: Marutamachi Rehabilitation Clinic, Kyoto 604-8405, Japan
Tetsuya Miyazaki: Marutamachi Rehabilitation Clinic, Kyoto 604-8405, Japan
Maki Tanaka: Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, 1 Hashikami-cho, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
Yuya Watanabe: Physical Fitness Research Institute, Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
Yoshihiro Kai: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Kyoto 607-8175, Japan
Toru Morihara: Marutamachi Rehabilitation Clinic, Kyoto 604-8405, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the standing trunk extension angle and medial elbow injuries. Subjects and methods: The study participants were 90 male baseball pitchers (10–12 years) belonging to youth baseball teams. Pitching elbow injuries were evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon using ultrasound scans and physical examination findings. A single optical three-dimensional motion analysis system was used for the trunk extension measurements, with three-dimensional coordinates captured. The overall, upper, and lower trunk angles were then analyzed. Results: Trunk extension angle during standing trunk extension was significantly smaller among participants who were positive for medial elbow injuries on ultrasound scans (positive: 71.4° ± 10.3°; negative: 75.7° ± 9.2°; t = 2.05, p < 0.05). The upper trunk extension angle was significantly smaller than the lower trunk extension angle among participants who were positive for medial elbow injuries on physical examination (upper: 33.0° ± 6.9°; lower: 41.2° ± 8.2°; t = −2.42, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Trunk extension angle during standing trunk extension is associated with medial elbow injuries. Evaluating the trunk extension angle as multiple segments rather than a single rigid body is valuable.

Keywords: junior baseball player; elbow injury; trunk extension; thoracic extension (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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