The Findings of Physical Examination and Ultrasonography at the Shoulders in High School Baseball Players

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate physical and ultrasonographic (US) imaging findings in pain-free shoulders of high school baseball players. METHOD: Physical examination including range of motion (ROM) and several pain provocative tests and US examination on both shoulders in forty-one high school baseball players were performed. The findings of these examinations were classified according to the dominance of shoulders and position of the players and described. RESULTS: Neer, Jobe, Hawkins test, and acromioclavicular tenderness were positive in 33.3%, 4.8%, 28.6%, and 38.3% respectively. Dominant shoulders had larger ROM of external rotation and internal rotation than non-dominant shoulders (p <0.05). Dominant shoulders of pitchers group had larger ROM of external rotation and smaller ROM of internal rotation than those of non-pitchers group (p <0.05). Dominant supraspinatus tendons of pitchers group were thicker than those of non-pitchers group (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: About one third of pain-free shoulders of baseball players showed positive in pain provocative tests. There were several differences in shoulder ROM and ultrasonographic thickness of supraspinatus tendon according to the dominance of shoulders and position of players.