Research into the connection between physical examination and the throwing motion of overhead athletes with throwing shoulder injuries

Abstract

We investigated the correlation between throwing motion and physical findings in the lower extremities of 50 athletes engaged in sports activities involving overhead throwing motions, who presented with throwing shoulder injuries. Pelvic retroversion at the knee high position on the non-throwing side and early glove motion start and trunk extension at the foot-ground contact position on the non-throwing side were evaluated from video-recordings of the motions. The patients were classified into two groups according to the data obtained, the pelvic retroversion group and non-pelvic retroversion group, and the physical findings were compared between the two groups. The results revealed a lower hip internal rotation angle on the throwing side in the pelvic retroversion group as compared to that in the non-pelvic retroversion group. The hip internal rotation angle on the throwing side represents an important indicator in the evaluation of throwing shoulder injuries.