Prevention of Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Injuries in Minor League Pitchers

NCT02749760 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: STUDY00000174
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 175
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Elbow Injuries; Sprain Ulnar Collateral Ligament; Upper Extremity Injuries; Strain of Ulnar Collateral Ligament; Complete Tear Ulnar Collateral Ligament

Keywords

Ulnar collateral ligament; elbow injuries; dynamic elbow stabilizers; Tommy John's procedure; elbow injuries in pitchers

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The Correlation of Strength to UCL Injuries in Minor League Pitchers

  After measuring strength of elbow stabilizers for up to five years, we will determine whether strength correlates with UCL injuries.

  5 years

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• The Diminution of Strength in Minor League Pitchers

  5 years

Study Arms (1)

Minor league pitchers

OTHER

Minor league pitchers from a single professional baseball organization. Strength tests of the elbows will be administered at spring training and end of season for 5 years. If strength correlates to injury, strengthening and exercise programs may be established to target the stabilizers of the elbows.

Other: Strengthening program; Other: Exercise program

Interventions

Strengthening program OTHER

Strengthening programs may be established to target the stabilizers of the elbows

Minor league pitchers

Exercise program OTHER

Exercise program may be established to target the stabilizers of the elbows.

Minor league pitchers

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Pitchers that are currently on a minor league baseball team.

You may not qualify if:

• Pitchers that currently have upper extremity injuries or are in active rehab for upper extremity injury.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Kansas Medical Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Kansas Medical Center

Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States

Location

Related Publications (23)

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  PMID: 25925603 BACKGROUND

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  PMID: 14509917 BACKGROUND

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  PMID: 7778713 BACKGROUND

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  PMID: 17583541 BACKGROUND

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  PMID: 24352622 BACKGROUND

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MeSH Terms

Conditions

Elbow Injuries

Interventions

Resistance Training

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arm Injuries; Wounds and Injuries

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• E B Toby, MD

  University of Kansas Medical Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SCREENING
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor and Chair, Dept of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 11, 2016
• First Posted: April 25, 2016
• Study Start: February 1, 2014
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2021
• Study Completion: September 1, 2021
• Last Updated: September 27, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)