There is a difference in throwing shoulder motion and strength between young athletes residing in cold- and warm-weather climates, according to a study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine.
The amount of time pitchers spend participating in pitching activities in warm climates is greater than that of pitchers in cold climates, which may make warm climate athletes more susceptible to throwing-related injuries.
Researchers followed 100 uninjured high school pitchers, 50 in warm climates and 50 in cold climates, for the study. The rotational shoulder motion and isometric strength were measured and participants reported the number of months they pitched per year.
The warm climate pitchers pitched more months per year than the cold climate pitchers and the number of months spent pitching was negatively related to the internal rotation motion and external rotation strength. The warm climate group exhibited greater shoulder range of motion on all planes and significantly lower external rotation strength.
Read the abstract of the study comparing warm and cold climate pitchers.
Read other coverage on sports medicine studies:
- 8 New Studies Impacting Sports Medicine
- American Sports Medicine Institute Study: Young Pitchers Should Stop Pitching After 100 Innings Per Season
- Study Finds Collagen-Producing Cells Heal Patients Faster Than Only Plasma for Tendinopathy
The amount of time pitchers spend participating in pitching activities in warm climates is greater than that of pitchers in cold climates, which may make warm climate athletes more susceptible to throwing-related injuries.
Researchers followed 100 uninjured high school pitchers, 50 in warm climates and 50 in cold climates, for the study. The rotational shoulder motion and isometric strength were measured and participants reported the number of months they pitched per year.
The warm climate pitchers pitched more months per year than the cold climate pitchers and the number of months spent pitching was negatively related to the internal rotation motion and external rotation strength. The warm climate group exhibited greater shoulder range of motion on all planes and significantly lower external rotation strength.
Read the abstract of the study comparing warm and cold climate pitchers.
Read other coverage on sports medicine studies:
- 8 New Studies Impacting Sports Medicine
- American Sports Medicine Institute Study: Young Pitchers Should Stop Pitching After 100 Innings Per Season
- Study Finds Collagen-Producing Cells Heal Patients Faster Than Only Plasma for Tendinopathy