Assessment of subacromial space and its relationship with scapular upward rotation in college baseball players.

Authors

Stephen John Thomas, University of Pennsylvania
Charles Buz Swanik, Dept of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science, University of Delaware
Thomas W Kaminski, Dept of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science, University of Delaware
Jill S Higginson, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware
Kathleen A Swanik, Dept of Athletic Training, Neumann University
Levon N Nazarian, Dept of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University HospitalFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2013

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed and is published in Journal of Sport Rehabilitation.

Volume 22, Issue 3, August 2013, Pages 216-223.

The published version is available at PMID: 23628891

© 2013 Human Kinetics, Inc.

Abstract

CONTEXT: Subacromial impingement is a common injury in baseball players and has been linked to a reduction in the subacromial space. In addition, it has been suggested that decreases in scapular upward rotation will lead to decreases in the subacromial space and ultimately impingement syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between acromiohumeral distance and scapular upward rotation in healthy college baseball players.

DESIGN: Posttest-only study design.

SETTING: Controlled laboratory setting.

PARTICIPANTS: 24 healthy college baseball players. Intervention: Participants were measured for all dependent variables at preseason.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acromiohumeral distance at rest and 90° of abduction was measured with a diagnostic ultrasound unit. Scapular upward rotation at rest and 90° of abduction was measured with a digital inclinometer.

RESULTS: Dominant-arm acromiohumeral distance at rest and 90° of abduction (P = .694, P = .840) was not significantly different than in the nondominant arm. In addition, there was not a significant correlation between acromiohumeral distance and scapular upward rotation at rest and 90° of abduction for either the dominant or the nondominant arm.

CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the acromiohumeral distance is not adapting in the dominant arm in healthy throwing athletes. In addition, a relationship was not identified between acromiohumeral distance and scapular upward rotation, which was previously suggested. These results may suggest that changes that are typically seen in an injured population may be occurring due to the injury and are not preexisting. In addition, scapular upward rotation may not be the only contributing factor to acromiohumeral distance.

Recommended Citation

Thomas, Stephen John; Swanik, Charles Buz; Kaminski, Thomas W; Higginson, Jill S; Swanik, Kathleen A; and Nazarian, Levon N, "Assessment of subacromial space and its relationship with scapular upward rotation in college baseball players." (2013). Department of Radiology Faculty Papers. Paper 33.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/radiologyfp/33

PubMed ID

23628891