MUSCLE VOLUME AND STRENGTH CHARATERISTICS OF THE ROTATOR CUFF AND DELTOID MUSCLES IN ASYMPTOMATIC BASEBALL PITCHERS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle volume (MV) and strength characteristics of the rotator cuff (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis) and deltoid muscles in each shoulder of asymptomatic baseball pitchers. Twelve collegiate baseball pitchers (PG) and ten male students (CG) who never played an overhand sports volunteered to participate in this study. Magnetic resonance imaging (Straits II, Hitachi Medico, 1.5 T) was used to measure the MV of rotator cuff and deltoid muscles in both shoulders of each subject. Since the individual muscles were difficult to identify on MRI scans, the infraspinatus and teres minor were analyzed as one infraspinatus muscle. Shoulder abduction (ABD), external rotation (ER), and internal rotation (IR) strengths were measured each side using a hand-held dynamometer (Power Track II, Jtech Medical Industry) . The MV of deltoid muscle was significantly larger value on the dominant side (DOM) than on the non-dominant side (NDOM) in both the PG and CG groups (p<0.05) . However, no significant differences in the MV of the rotator cuff muscles and the measured shoulder strength (ABD, ER, and IR) were observed between both sides in either group. Similarly, no significant differences in the DOM/NDOM ratio of the muscle volume and the measured shoulder strength were observed between the two groups. These results suggest that the rotator cuff muscle volume and strength does not differ in both sides of the PG, and DOM/NDOM ratios of the rotator cuff muscle volume and strength of the PG does not differ in those of the CG.