NCT06854692

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the impact of performing cervical exercises during a simulated game on shoulder range of motion and strength in collegiate baseball picthers. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can performing cervical retraction/extension exercises help to maintain shoulder internal rotation range of motion in the throwing shoulder after a pitching session? Can performing cervical retraction/extension exercises help to maintain shoulder external rotation strength in the throwing shoulder after a pitching session? Researchers will compare the effects of cervical retraction/extension exercises to no exercise to see if shoulder range of motion or strength is impacted. Participants will perform end-range cervical retraction and cervical retraction with extension, holding the end-range of motion for 3 seconds and performing 10 repetitions of each exercise between each inning of a simulated 5-inning game.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
20

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started May 2025

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 20, 2025

Completed
11 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

March 3, 2025

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 31, 2025

Completed
7 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 29, 2025

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 29, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

January 28, 2026

Status Verified

January 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

7 months

First QC Date

February 20, 2025

Last Update Submit

January 26, 2026

Conditions

Shoulder

Keywords

shoulderthrowing athleterange of motionstrengthcervical retraction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Shoulder Internal Rotation ROM

    measure of shoulder range of motion

    Day 1

  • Shoulder External Rotation Strength

    measure of shoulder strength

    Day 1

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL
Other: Cervical retraction exercise

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Cervical retraction exerciseOTHER

Participants will perform end-range cervical retraction and cervical retraction with extension, holding the end-range of motion for 3 seconds and performing 10 repetitions of each exercise.

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexmale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • an overhead thrower over the age of 18 years old
  • currently painfree while throwing at their usual intensity

You may not qualify if:

  • previous shoulder or elbow surgery on the throwing arm within the last 12 months
  • currently in the post-operative phase of a shoulder or elbow surgery on the throwing arm
  • currently participating in a rehabilitation program for shoulder or elbow pain
  • currently not able to throw due to shoulder or elbow pain

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, Connecticut, 06825, United States

Location

Related Publications (14)

  • Paige P, Frank CC, Larnder R. (2010) Assessment and treatment of muscle imbalance: The Janda approach. Human Kinetics.

    BACKGROUND

  • Devaney LL, Denegar CR, Thigpen CA, Lepley AS, Edgar C, DiStefano LJ. Preseason Neck Mobility Is Associated With Throwing-Related Shoulder and Elbow Injuries, Pain, and Disability in College Baseball Pitchers. Orthop J Sports Med. 2020 May 18;8(5):2325967120920556. doi: 10.1177/2325967120920556. eCollection 2020 May.

    PMID: 32523967BACKGROUND

  • Pheasant S, Haydt R, Gottstein T, Grasso A, Lombard N, Stone B. SHOULDER EXTERNAL ROTATOR STRENGTH IN RESPONSE TO VARIOUS SITTING POSTURES: A CONTROLLED LABORATORY STUDY. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2018 Feb;13(1):50-57.

    PMID: 29484241BACKGROUND

  • Pheasant S. CERVICAL CONTRIBUTION TO FUNCTIONAL SHOULDER IMPINGEMENT: TWO CASE REPORTS. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016 Dec;11(6):980-991.

    PMID: 27904800BACKGROUND

  • Jobe FW, Tibone JE, Perry J, Moynes D. An EMG analysis of the shoulder in throwing and pitching. A preliminary report. Am J Sports Med. 1983 Jan-Feb;11(1):3-5. doi: 10.1177/036354658301100102.

    PMID: 6829838BACKGROUND

  • Gandhi J, ElAttrache NS, Kaufman KR, Hurd WJ. Voluntary activation deficits of the infraspinatus present as a consequence of pitching-induced fatigue. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012 May;21(5):625-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2011.04.012. Epub 2011 Aug 10.

    PMID: 21831667BACKGROUND

  • Reinold MM, Wilk KE, Macrina LC, Sheheane C, Dun S, Fleisig GS, Crenshaw K, Andrews JR. Changes in shoulder and elbow passive range of motion after pitching in professional baseball players. Am J Sports Med. 2008 Mar;36(3):523-7. doi: 10.1177/0363546507308935. Epub 2007 Nov 8.

    PMID: 17991783BACKGROUND

  • Tyler TF, Mullaney MJ, Mirabella MR, Nicholas SJ, McHugh MP. Risk Factors for Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in High School Baseball Pitchers: The Role of Preseason Strength and Range of Motion. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Aug;42(8):1993-9. doi: 10.1177/0363546514535070. Epub 2014 Jun 3.

    PMID: 24893778BACKGROUND

  • McClure P, Balaicuis J, Heiland D, Broersma ME, Thorndike CK, Wood A. A randomized controlled comparison of stretching procedures for posterior shoulder tightness. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2007 Mar;37(3):108-14. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2007.2337.

    PMID: 17416125BACKGROUND

  • Burkhart SS, Morgan CD, Kibler WB. The disabled throwing shoulder: spectrum of pathology Part I: pathoanatomy and biomechanics. Arthroscopy. 2003 Apr;19(4):404-20. doi: 10.1053/jars.2003.50128.

    PMID: 12671624BACKGROUND

  • Crockett HC, Gross LB, Wilk KE, Schwartz ML, Reed J, O'Mara J, Reilly MT, Dugas JR, Meister K, Lyman S, Andrews JR. Osseous adaptation and range of motion at the glenohumeral joint in professional baseball pitchers. Am J Sports Med. 2002 Jan-Feb;30(1):20-6. doi: 10.1177/03635465020300011701.

    PMID: 11798991BACKGROUND

  • Trakis JE, McHugh MP, Caracciolo PA, Busciacco L, Mullaney M, Nicholas SJ. Muscle strength and range of motion in adolescent pitchers with throwing-related pain: implications for injury prevention. Am J Sports Med. 2008 Nov;36(11):2173-8. doi: 10.1177/0363546508319049. Epub 2008 Jul 2.

    PMID: 18596197BACKGROUND

  • Wilk KE, Macrina LC, Fleisig GS, Porterfield R, Simpson CD 2nd, Harker P, Paparesta N, Andrews JR. Correlation of glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and total rotational motion to shoulder injuries in professional baseball pitchers. Am J Sports Med. 2011 Feb;39(2):329-35. doi: 10.1177/0363546510384223. Epub 2010 Dec 4.

    PMID: 21131681BACKGROUND

  • Garrison JC, Cole MA, Conway JE, Macko MJ, Thigpen C, Shanley E. Shoulder range of motion deficits in baseball players with an ulnar collateral ligament tear. Am J Sports Med. 2012 Nov;40(11):2597-603. doi: 10.1177/0363546512459175. Epub 2012 Sep 26.

    PMID: 23019251BACKGROUND

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 20, 2025

First Posted

March 3, 2025

Study Start

May 31, 2025

Primary Completion

December 29, 2025

Study Completion

December 29, 2025

Last Updated

January 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations

US(1)