Effects of two stretching methods on shoulder range of motion and muscle stiffness in baseball players with posterior shoulder tightness: a randomized controlled trial

• Yamauchi, Taishi

  Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

• Hasegawa, Satoshi

  Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

• Nakamura, Masatoshi

  Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University・Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare

• Nishishita, Satoru

  Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

• Yanase, Ko

  Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

• Fujita, Kosuke

  Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

• Umehara, Jun

  Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

• Ji, Xiang

  Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

• Ibuki, Satoko

  Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

• Ichihashi, Noriaki

  Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

Abstract

Background: The cross-body stretch and sleeper stretch are widely used for improving flexibility of the posterior shoulder. These stretching methods were modified by Wilk. However, few quantitative data are available on the new, modified stretching methods. A recent study reported the immediate effects of stretching and soft tissue mobilization on the shoulder range of motion (ROM) and muscle stiffness in subjects with posterior shoulder tightness. However, the long-term effect of stretching for muscle stiffness is unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of 2 stretching methods, the modified cross-body stretch (MCS) and the modified sleeper stretch (MSS), on shoulder ROM and muscle stiffness in baseball players with posterior shoulder tightness. Methods: Twenty-four college baseball players with ROM limitations in shoulder internal rotation were randomly assigned to the MCS or MSS group. We measured shoulder internal rotation and horizontal adduction ROM and assessed posterior shoulder muscle stiffness with ultrasonic shear wave elastography before and after a 4-week intervention. Subjects were asked to perform 3 repetitions of the stretching exercises every day, for 30 seconds, with their dominant shoulder. Results: In both groups, shoulder internal rotation and horizontal adduction ROM were significantly increased after the 4-week intervention. Muscle stiffness of the teres minor decreased in the MCS group, and that of the infraspinatus decreased in the MSS group. Conclsuions: The MCS and MSS are effective for increasing shoulder internal rotation and horizontal adduction ROM and decreasing muscle stiffness of the infraspinatus or teres minor.

Journal

• Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery

  Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery 25 (9), 1395-1403, 2016-09

  Elsevier BV

Keywords

• Shear wave elastography
• modified sleeper stretching
• modified cross-over stretching
• posterior shoulder tightness
• baseball
• infraspinatus
• teres minor

Details

• CRID: 1050845760787728768
• NII Article ID: 120006471203
• ISSN: 10582746
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2016.04.025
• HANDLE: 2433/231304
• Web Site: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S1058274616301148?httpAccept=text/xml
• Web Site: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S1058274616301148?httpAccept=text/plain
• Text Lang: en
• Article Type: journal article
• Data Source:
  • IRDB
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN