Complete Tear Ulnar Collateral Ligament, Elbow Injuries, Sprain Ulnar Collateral Ligament, Strain of Ulnar Collateral Ligament, Upper Extremity Injuries
Conditions
Keywords
Ulnar collateral ligament, elbow injuries, dynamic elbow stabilizers, Tommy John's procedure, elbow injuries in pitchers
Brief summary
This is a study of the muscle stabilizers of the elbow with respect to the prevention of Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) injuries in pitchers. Pitchers are assessed at spring training and end of season for approximately 5 years. Pronator, flexor digitoum superficialis (FDS), and wrist flexion strength will be measured and correlated with upper extremity injuries and time missed from pitching. The investigators will also be measuring loss of strength over the season. The goal is to learn whether strength in these muscles prevents UCL injuries and finally whether these muscles can be strengthened to avoid such injuries.
Detailed description
The goal of this study is to assess whether the strengths of the secondary muscular stabilizers toward valgus stress at the elbow, the wrist flexors, flexor digitorum superficialis, and pronator teres emanating from the medial epicondyle, affect the incidence of ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the elbows in pitchers. Pitchers in the minor leagues of a single professional baseball club will have the strength of these secondary muscular stabilizers assessed and then correlated to ulnar collateral ligament injuries and time missed from baseball season and subsequent seasons. A secondary goal is to assess whether strengthening exercises targeted toward these muscular stabilizers of the elbow can decrease the incidence of ulnar collateral ligament injuries in young baseball pitchers. This could impact the field by changing the emphasis from reconstruction and rehabilitation of ulnar collateral ligament injuries to prevention.
Interventions
Strengthening programs may be established to target the stabilizers of the elbows
OTHERExercise program
Exercise program may be established to target the stabilizers of the elbows.
Sponsors
University of Kansas Medical Center
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SCREENING
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Pitchers that are currently on a minor league baseball team.
Exclusion criteria
* Pitchers that currently have upper extremity injuries or are in active rehab for upper extremity injury.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Correlation of Strength to UCL Injuries in Minor League Pitchers | 5 years | After measuring strength of elbow stabilizers for up to five years, we will determine whether strength correlates with UCL injuries. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Diminution of Strength in Minor League Pitchers | 5 years | We will measure the diminution of strength over the course of a baseball season. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed