The Relationship Between Hip ROM and Shoulder Pain in Adolescent Baseball Athletes

Introduction/Objectives: In the United States alone, baseball is one of the most common sporting events that adolescents take part in. Annually, over 5 million adolescents participate in baseball. Throwing a ball puts an immense amount of stress onto the upper extremities, especially the shoulder. If there are deficiencies at any point during the throwing motion, the stress placed on the shoulder will grow even more. This compensation could possibly originate from the hip and the joints’ range of motion. Decreased range of motion could lead to poor mechanics and an increase of pain in the shoulder during the throwing motion. The purpose of this critically appraised topic is to investigate the correlation between shoulder pain during the throwing motion and a decreased amount of hip range of motion.

Methods: Five studies looked at how the throwing mechanics of adolescent baseball athletes could be causing shoulder pain. Each study utilized goniometry to determine hip range of motion of each subject and a specific self-reported pain rating questionnaire to determine the subjects shoulder pain. Each study included participants under the age of 18, did not have a previous history of shoulder injuries, genetic disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system, and included field players as well as pitchers.

Results: Four of the five studies agreed that there is a correlation between a lack of normal hip range of motion and shoulder pain during the throwing mechanics of adolescent baseball athletes. Overall, the lack or limited hip range of motion could be associated with shoulder pain or injuries.

Conclusions: In all the studies included in this synthesis, subjects in the adolescent age range with no related, previous history of injury to the shoulder were assessed for complaints of pain. Each study utilized goniometry to measure hip range of motion and a self-reported pain scale. 4 of the 5 studies included were supportive of the notion that a deficiency in hip range of motion could lead to compensation patterns that contribute to shoulder pain in adolescent baseball athletes.