In a recent 2015 article published in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery authors concluded baseball pitchers between the ages of 13 and 18 who demonstrated side-to-side range of motion (ROM) deficits of 15 degrees or greater in the direction of shoulder horizontal adduction (HA) during preseason screenings had a four times higher likelihood of either a shoulder injury or elbow injury during the course of the season.

Additionally, the authors concluded baseball pitchers between the ages of 13 and 18 who demonstrated side-to-side ROM deficits of 13 degrees or greater in the direction of of internal rotation (IR) during preseason screenings had a six times higher likelihood of either a shoulder injury or elbow injury during the course of the season.

2015 Study from the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

The application of this study’s findings is simply to incorporate a preseason screening for baseball pitchers (I am a proponent of screening all baseball players regardless of position) to identify pitchers who are at a higher risk. Athletic Training and Conditioning, Inc. can assist in these types of screenings for individuals or teams. Upon identifying those who are at a higher risk, a strategic course of action needs to be developed and implemented in a timely manner to ensure sufficient time is available to produce a physiological response in the target tissues / areas.