Cortical Processing of Proprioception Related to Pitching Performance in Baseball Players With Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit

NCT06704529 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 202407026RINB
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 98
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The current study aims to characterize the cortical activity and proprioceptive acuity in baseball players with glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD). Additionally, the correlations between cortical activity, proprioceptive acuity, and pitching performance will be examined. The evaluation of proprioception will be conducted using the active joint reposition sense of the shoulder. Simultaneously, the investigators will record cortical activity by electroencephalography (EEG). To represent pitching performance, the investigators will collect ball velocity and pitching accuracy. This will help the investigators understand the process of proprioception in the central nervous system, as well as factors associated with pitching performance in baseball players with GIRD.

Conditions

Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit

Keywords

proprioception; baseball; pitching performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Active joint reposition test

  Participants will mimic the pitching motion with reducing the influence from the lower limb by kneeling the knee and hip of the nondominant side 90° and their foot are flat on the ground. They will be blindfolded, with their non-throwing hand resting on the thigh. The reproducing arm-cocking and ball-release positions will be tested at random sequences for six trials, respectively. Results or feedback regarding the accuracy of individual trials will not be provided at any time. The acuity of active joint reposition will be calculated by 3-dimensional variable error scores for scapulothoracic (internal-external rotation, upward-downward rotation, posterior-anterior tilt) and glenohumeral (internal-external rotation, horizontal abduction-adduction, abduction-adduction) joint 55. Three-dimensional variable error scores (3DVE) reflect acuity (measured in degrees) in all planes of motion measured for individual joints.

  baseline

• Pitching performance

  Pitching performance will be collected by radar gun (JUGS company, Tualatin, OR, USA) and digital camera (JVC GC-PX100B, Yokohama, Japan) for ball velocity and pitching location, respectively. Participants will pitch on a mound 18.44 m away from the home plate. The target will be aligned with the theoretical line extending from the right edge of the home plate at a height of approximately 30 cm above the ground. After warming up at their own pace, each participant throws 30 game-like effort pitches in three 10-pitch sessions without specific instruction on focusing their attention. The fastest velocity of 10 pitches will be collected for analysis.

  baseline

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Shoulder range of motion

  baseline

• Humeral retrotorsion

  baseline

• Acromiohumeral distance

  baseline

• Rotator cuff thickness

  baseline

• Posterior capsule thickness

  baseline

Study Arms (2)

baseball players with GIRD

Behavioral: pitching motion

baseball players without GIRD

Behavioral: pitching motion

Interventions

pitching motion BEHAVIORAL

participants pitch fastball to the strike zone

baseball players with GIRD; baseball players without GIRD

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

GIRD is defined as 20° less GH IR ROM in the dominant shoulder compared to the non-dominant shoulder. Players without GIRD will be recruited to match the characteristics and sports involvement data (age ±3 years, right-handed or left-handed, pitcher or fielder, practice time \>10 hours/week or \<10 hours/week, baseball experience \>3 years or \<3 years) of the GIRD players.

You may qualify if:

• playing baseball for at least one year
• still active in training or competition
• frequency of training or games should be at least 3 hours per week

You may not qualify if:

• current dominant upper extremities pain
• a history of upper extremities surgical interventions or fractures or dislocation or degenerative joint disease
• cervical radiculopathy within 6 months
• lower extremities injury or surgery within the current 6 months
• Visual analog scale (VAS) \> 5 during movement in the experiment

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Taiwan University Hospital: lead
• Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Institute of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University

Taipei, Taiwan, 100, Taiwan

Location

Related Publications (7)

• Ludewig PM, Cook TM. Alterations in shoulder kinematics and associated muscle activity in people with symptoms of shoulder impingement. Phys Ther. 2000 Mar;80(3):276-91.

  PMID: 10696154 BACKGROUND

• Mine K, Nakayama T, Milanese S, Grimmer K. Effectiveness of Stretching on Posterior Shoulder Tightness and Glenohumeral Internal-Rotation Deficit: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Sport Rehabil. 2017 Jul;26(4):294-305. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2015-0172. Epub 2016 Aug 24.

  PMID: 27632891 BACKGROUND

• Aldridge R, Stephen Guffey J, Whitehead MT, Head P. The effects of a daily stretching protocol on passive glenohumeral internal rotation in overhead throwing collegiate athletes. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2012 Aug;7(4):365-71.

  PMID: 22893856 BACKGROUND

• Johnson JE, Fullmer JA, Nielsen CM, Johnson JK, Moorman CT 3rd. Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit and Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Orthop J Sports Med. 2018 May 22;6(5):2325967118773322. doi: 10.1177/2325967118773322. eCollection 2018 May.

  PMID: 29845083 BACKGROUND

• Meister K, Day T, Horodyski M, Kaminski TW, Wasik MP, Tillman S. Rotational motion changes in the glenohumeral joint of the adolescent/Little League baseball player. Am J Sports Med. 2005 May;33(5):693-8. doi: 10.1177/0363546504269936. Epub 2005 Feb 16.

  PMID: 15722284 BACKGROUND

• Freehill MT, Archer KR, Diffenderfer BW, Ebel BG, Cosgarea AJ, McFarland EG. Changes in collegiate starting pitchers' range of motion after single game and season. Phys Sportsmed. 2014 Feb;42(1):69-74. doi: 10.3810/psm.2014.02.2049.

  PMID: 24565823 BACKGROUND

• Astolfi MM, Struminger AH, Royer TD, Kaminski TW, Swanik CB. Adaptations of the Shoulder to Overhead Throwing in Youth Athletes. J Athl Train. 2015 Jul;50(7):726-32. doi: 10.4085/1062-6040-50.1.14. Epub 2015 Mar 26.

  PMID: 25811844 BACKGROUND

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 21, 2024
• First Posted: November 26, 2024
• Study Start: August 20, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 30, 2025
• Study Completion: July 30, 2025
• Last Updated: December 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TW (1)