Rivera J1, Ingle J1, Palermo A1, Willow B1, Moore L1, Feigenbaum L1, Raya M1, Kaplan L1, Cohen M1, Cahalin L1
1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Physical Therapy, Coral Gables, United States
Background: Specificity of sport and training is important when examining athletes and when implementing training or rehabilitation programs. The role of breathing and respiratory muscle performance is becoming recognized as an important aspect to achieve optimal athletic performance which may be important in overhead sports like that required of baseball pitchers.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of inspiratory performance to characteristics of Division 1 Collegiate baseball pitchers (D1CBBP).
Methods: Twenty-nine male D1CBBP (13 left handed and 16 right handed) were recruited via a convenience sample from a D1C program. The best of 3 to 5 trials using the Test of Incremental Respiratory Endurance (TIRE) was used to obtain maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) which was measured from residual volume as well as the sustained maximal inspiratory pressure (SMIP) which was measured from residual volume to total lung capacity. Right and left passive glenohumeral internal and external rotation (RGHIR, RGHER, LGHIR, and LGHER, respectively) were measured via standard goniometry. Other characteristics such as age, body weight, and height were obtained using standard methods and included in the analyses which included calculation of descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and Spearman correlation analyses.
Results: The mean±SD age, height, weight, MIP, and SMIP of all D1CBBP were 20.0±1.5 years, 186.0±5.2 cm, 89.0±6.5 kg, 103.2±24.3 cm H2O, and 792.6±315.0 PTU, respectively. The mean±SD RGHIR, RGHER, LGHIR, and LGHER were 59.5±12.7º, 118.8±15.6º, 91.0±52.7º, 116.1±16.4º, respectively. The right and left handed D1CBBP were similar in all measures except for LGHIR and LGHER which were significantly greater in left handed D1CBBP (mean±SD of 122.3±68.1º versus 67.6±14.8º and 123.3±11.7º versus 110.3±17.5º, respectively; p 0.05). The MIP of right handed D1CBBP was significantly correlated negatively to both RGHER and LGHER (r= -.68 and -.65, respectively; p 0.05) and the MIP of left handed D1CBBP was near significantly correlated negatively to LGHER (r= -.52; p=0.06).
Conclusion(s): This study found that glenohumeral motion is significantly related to MIP of D1CBBP. It is likely that the negative relationship between MIP and glenohumeral external rotation is due to the excessive degree of external rotation required of D1CBBP and the overstretched muscles responsible for glenohumeral internal rotation (latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, and subscapularis) which also act as accessory inspiratory muscles when required. The significant relationship of LGHER to MIP in right handed D1CBBP is surprising and requires further investigation. Further investigation of the relationship of glenohumeral motion to inspiratory performance in baseball and other sports appears warranted.
Implications: Poorer inspiratory performance may negatively affect the strength and endurance of D1CBBP all of which may be improved with targeted breathing exercises or inspiratory muscle training. Research on the effects of such interventions on the performance of D1CBBP appears warranted.
Keywords: Baseball Pitchers, Maximal Inspiratory Pressure, Glenohumeral Motion
Funding acknowledgements: University of Miami Athletics Department and Department of Physical Therapy
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of inspiratory performance to characteristics of Division 1 Collegiate baseball pitchers (D1CBBP).
Methods: Twenty-nine male D1CBBP (13 left handed and 16 right handed) were recruited via a convenience sample from a D1C program. The best of 3 to 5 trials using the Test of Incremental Respiratory Endurance (TIRE) was used to obtain maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) which was measured from residual volume as well as the sustained maximal inspiratory pressure (SMIP) which was measured from residual volume to total lung capacity. Right and left passive glenohumeral internal and external rotation (RGHIR, RGHER, LGHIR, and LGHER, respectively) were measured via standard goniometry. Other characteristics such as age, body weight, and height were obtained using standard methods and included in the analyses which included calculation of descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and Spearman correlation analyses.
Results: The mean±SD age, height, weight, MIP, and SMIP of all D1CBBP were 20.0±1.5 years, 186.0±5.2 cm, 89.0±6.5 kg, 103.2±24.3 cm H2O, and 792.6±315.0 PTU, respectively. The mean±SD RGHIR, RGHER, LGHIR, and LGHER were 59.5±12.7º, 118.8±15.6º, 91.0±52.7º, 116.1±16.4º, respectively. The right and left handed D1CBBP were similar in all measures except for LGHIR and LGHER which were significantly greater in left handed D1CBBP (mean±SD of 122.3±68.1º versus 67.6±14.8º and 123.3±11.7º versus 110.3±17.5º, respectively; p 0.05). The MIP of right handed D1CBBP was significantly correlated negatively to both RGHER and LGHER (r= -.68 and -.65, respectively; p 0.05) and the MIP of left handed D1CBBP was near significantly correlated negatively to LGHER (r= -.52; p=0.06).
Conclusion(s): This study found that glenohumeral motion is significantly related to MIP of D1CBBP. It is likely that the negative relationship between MIP and glenohumeral external rotation is due to the excessive degree of external rotation required of D1CBBP and the overstretched muscles responsible for glenohumeral internal rotation (latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, and subscapularis) which also act as accessory inspiratory muscles when required. The significant relationship of LGHER to MIP in right handed D1CBBP is surprising and requires further investigation. Further investigation of the relationship of glenohumeral motion to inspiratory performance in baseball and other sports appears warranted.
Implications: Poorer inspiratory performance may negatively affect the strength and endurance of D1CBBP all of which may be improved with targeted breathing exercises or inspiratory muscle training. Research on the effects of such interventions on the performance of D1CBBP appears warranted.
Keywords: Baseball Pitchers, Maximal Inspiratory Pressure, Glenohumeral Motion
Funding acknowledgements: University of Miami Athletics Department and Department of Physical Therapy
Topic: Sport & sports injuries; Cardiorespiratory; Musculoskeletal: upper limb
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of Miami
Ethics committee: Institutional Review Board
Ethics number: 232
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
