Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the isokinetic strength of the shoulders of high school and college-aged baseball pitchers. Twenty-four athletes ranging from 14 to 21 years of age volunteered for this study. The Cybex II and U.B.X.T. were utilized to test the strength of the shoulder abductors/adductors, flexors/extensors, horizontal abductors/adductors, and external/internal rotators at 90, 120, 210, and 300 degrees/sec. There were no consistent differences between dominant and nondominant arm strength, except for the shoulder adductors and shoulder extensors. The shoulder abductors and flexors were approximately 50 as strong as the adductors and extensors, respectively. There was a 1:1 ratio between the horizontal abductors/adductors. The external rotators were approximately two-thirds as strong as the internal rotators. A positive correlation was found between total body weight and shoulder strength. This information is relatively new to the literature and should provide clinicians with some training and rehabilitation guidelines. Verf.-Referat