Strength testing in the high school-aged baseball athlete: Reliability, percentage ratios, and pain with throwing
Description
Data was collected from 34 adolescent male baseball athletes. The purpose was to observe throwing arm strength percentage ratios and throwing with pain during seasonal participation, and reliability of testing for the high school-aged baseball athlete. Data included age, throwing arm strength (measured with an externally fixated digital handheld dynamometer (HHD) in different positions), throwing arm length, Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (KJOC) shoulder and Elbow Score, and visual analog pain scale.
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Steps to reproduce
Each athlete completed six different strength testing positions for their throwing arm: shoulder external rotation (ER) and internal rotation (IR) with the arm positioned at the side (30° abduction and 30 degrees ER); shoulder ER and IR at 90 degrees abduction (ABD), in 90 degrees elbow flexion, and 45 degrees IR; and elbow extension and flexion at 90 degrees shoulder and elbow flexion. An average of two trials were taken for each strength measurement. To reduce athlete fatigue, each muscle group was tested in a sequential order, as defined by agonist and antagonist muscle groups, followed by a two-minute rest period between trials. All strength testing was performed using the MicroFet2 digital handheld dynamometer (HHD) (Hoggan Scientific, LLC) using a “make” contraction where the force was built gradually by the participant over two seconds and then a maximal isometric contraction was held for five seconds. During testing, the HHD was connected to a belt which was fixed to a stable surface (e.g., table or plinth). The angle of the table was adjusted to achieve optimal degrees of shoulder abduction or flexion. Additionally, the HHD was stabilized within the belt by the tester to prevent it from falling. The tester did not apply any external force against the resistance of the athlete. The HHD was positioned two centimeters proximally to the subject’s styloid process. The HHD was placed on the anterior forearm for shoulder IR and elbow flexion testing, the posterior forearm for shoulder ER, and ulnar side of the wrist for elbow extension.
Institutions
- Nova Southeastern University