Baseball Pitching injuries: Dont forget about the Latissimus Dorsi and Teres Major!

Management and Outcomes of Latissimus Dorsi and Teres Major Injuries in Professional Baseball Pitchers

by Nagda, S. H., Cohen, S. B., Noonan, T. J., Raasch, W. G., Ciccotti, M. G., Yocum, L. A.

Background: Very little data exist on latissimus dorsi (LD) and teres major (TM) injuries in professional baseball pitchers.

Purpose: This review was undertaken to report on the management and outcomes of baseball pitchers with injury to 1 or both of these muscles.

Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: A retrospective review of 16 professional baseball pitchers diagnosed and treated for an LD and/or TM tear between 2002 and 2008 was performed. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis in all cases. The mean age was 28.1 years. All were treated nonoperatively with rest, rehabilitation, and return to pitching after a throwing program. The injuries included tendon avulsions in 6 athletes and strains in 10. Length of disabled time, return to prior level of pitching, and recurrences were noted.

Results: Fifteen of 16 pitchers (94%) returned to the same or higher level of play. The mean time to throwing was 35.6 days. Mean time to pitching was 61.9 days. Nine of 16 injuries (56%) were season-ending. Mean total time lost for athletes returning the same season was 82.4 days. Two of 16 pitchers (13%) sustained recurrent injuries. Prior shoulder and elbow injuries were noted in 75% (12 of 16).

Conclusion: Injury of the LD and/or TM can occur in pitchers. Nonoperative treatment is successful in allowing a return to high-level pitching.

 
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Stretching and Jump performance whats the best method? New Study takes a look.

The Acute Effects of Different Stretching Exercises on Jump Performance

by Pacheco, Laura; Balius, Ramon; Aliste, Luisa; Pujol, Montse; Pedret, Carles

Pacheco, L, Balius, R, Aliste, L, Pujol, M, and Pedret, C. The acute effects of different stretching exercises on jump performance. J Strength Cond Res 25(11): 2991–2998, 2011—

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the short-term effects of different stretching exercises during the warm-up period on the lower limbs.

 A controlled, crossover clinical study involving 49 volunteers (14 women and 35 men; mean age: 20.4 years) enrolled in a “physical and sporting activities monitor” program. The explosive force was assessed using the Bosco test. The protocol was as follows:

 The test involved a (pre) jump test, general warm-up, intervention and (post) jump test. Each volunteer was subjected to each of the 5 interventions (no stretching [NS] and stretching: static passive stretching [P]; proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation [PNF] techniques; static active stretching in passive tension [PT]; static active stretching in active tension [AT]) in a random order. The jump test was used to assess the squat jump, countermovement jump (CMJ), elasticity index (EI), and drop jump.

 An intragroup statistical analysis was performed before and after each intervention to compare the differences between the different stretching exercises. An intergroup analysis was also performed. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between all variables for the interventions “P,” “PNF,” and “TA” in the intragroup analysis, with each value being higher in the postjump test. Only the “P” intervention showed a significant difference (p = 0.046) for “EI,” with the postvalue being lower. Likewise, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed for the “CMJ” measurements during the intergroup analysis, especially between “NS” and the interventions “P,” “PNF,” “AT,” and “PT,” with each value, particularly that for “AT,” being higher after stretching.

 The results of this study suggest that static active stretching in AT can be recommended during the warm-up for explosive force disciplines.