Randomized controlled trial

Objectives: To determine if a modified version of the cross body stretch that incorporates scapular stabilization immediately following a bout of pitching will increase passive shoulder range of motion more than the standard cross body stretch in male collegiate baseball players. Background: Overhead athletes, mainly baseball players, often exhibit pathologic gross internal rotation deficit (pGIRD) in their dominant arm due to the unique repetitive shoulder motion of throwing. If not addressed, this repetitive motion in combination with pGIRD may lead to future arm injuries over time. Following throwing, immediate stretching intervention may increase passive shoulder range of motion, decrease shoulder tightness, and decrease the risk of future injury. Methods and Measures: Forty asymptomatic collegiate baseball players were randomly assigned to one of two groups with each group receiving a different intervention of stretching. Using a standard inclinometer, shoulder PROM measures were taken at three intervals: 1) after warm up, 2) immediately after throwing and 3) immediately after assigned intervention. One group received the standard cross-body stretch while the other group received a modified version of the cross-body stretch. The modified version included active stretching with the use of a 4-inch foam roller for scapular stabilization. Examiners taking the shoulder measurements were blinded to the participants’ dominant throwing arm, as well as to which stretch the subjects executed. Results: A mixed between-within subjects analysis of variance showed that mean throwing shoulder IR, HAD and TROM differed statistically significantly across the three time points (p=.002, p=.007, p=.016 respectively). A test of between-subjects effects showed no significant difference for IR, ER, HAD and TROM when the two groups were compared across the various time points (p=.939, p= .765, p= .763, p=.806 respectively). Conclusion: Both the modified cross-body stretch and standard cross-body stretch appears to improve passive shoulder internal rotation and total shoulder range of motion in the overhead athlete after an acute bout of throwing.