Preventive interventions for throwing injuries in baseball players: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder and elbow pain are the common complaints associated with throwing injuries in baseball players. Prospective studies evaluating the effectiveness of stretching in increasing posterior shoulder flexibility or strengthening the external rotator muscles as preventive strategies for throwing injuries in baseball players have been published. However, there are limited reviews highlighting the role of preventive interventions for throwing injuries in baseball players. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to summarize the existing literature on preventive interventions for throwing injuries in baseball players. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases on 3 March 2023. Two independent reviewers screened the studies based on the eligibility criteria. We extracted existing literature on preventive interventions and effectiveness for throwing injuries in baseball players, and participants' characteristics and results were extracted from the studies. This scoping review was performed in accordance with the Extended Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement for Scoping Reviews. RESULTS: The initial database search yielded 1170 articles, four of which met the eligibility criteria. Of the included studies, two were randomized controlled trials, and the remaining two were prospective cohort studies. Eligible studies targeted youth-to high school-level players and focused on preventive programs for throwing injuries that manifest in the upper extremities of baseball players. The outcome measure most commonly used to quantify the effectiveness of prevention programs was the incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries, although the definitions vary among studies. The prevention program included sleeper stretching, shoulder external rotation strengthening exercises, and comprehensive prevention programs (focusing on improving the elbow, shoulder, and hip range of motion; rotator cuff and periscapular muscle strength; posture; and lower extremity balance). Each prevention program was reported to have the potential to reduce the incidence of throwing injuries in baseball players, and two studies suggested that high compliance with the program led to a lower injury risk. CONCLUSION: This scoping review confirmed the presence of studies that examined preventive interventions for throwing injuries in baseball players. Preventive interventions that may reduce throwing injuries in baseball players include sleeper stretching, shoulder external rotation strengthening exercises, and comprehensive prevention programs. However, the characteristics of participants (eg, age, sports level, and position) and the definition of injury varied among previous studies. Injury profiles and prevention strategies may differ according to age, sport level, and position of players, and more studies are needed to prove this issue.

Does physiotherapy after rotator cuff repair require supervision by a physical therapist?: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A supervised physiotherapy program (SPP) is a standard regimen after surgical rotator cuff repair (RCR); however, the effect of a home-based exercise program (HEP), as an alternative, on postoperative functional recovery remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the functional effects of SPP and HEP after RCR. METHODS: We searched electronic databases including Central, Medline, and Embase in April 2022. The primary outcomes included the Constant score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, University of California Los Angeles shoulder score, and pain score. Secondary outcomes included range of motion, muscle strength, retear rate, and patient satisfaction rate. A meta-analysis using random-effects models was performed on the pooled results to determine the significance. RESULTS: The initial database search yielded 848 records, five of which met our criteria. Variables at 3 months after surgery were successfully analyzed, including the Constant score (mean difference, -8.51 points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -32.72 to 15.69; P=0.49) and pain score (mean difference, 0.02 cm; 95% CI, -2.29 to 2.33; P=0.99). There were no significant differences between the SPP and HEP. Other variables were not analyzed owing to the lack of data. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed no significant differences between SSP and HEP with regard to the Constant and pain scores at 3 months after RCR. These results suggest that HEP may be an alternative regimen after RCR. Level of evidence: I.

Shoulder pain in wheelchair basketball athletes: A scoping review.

CONTEXT: Wheelchair basketball athletes have increased upper limb stress, which frequently leads to shoulder pain. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the existing literature on shoulder pain in wheelchair basketball athletes. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and PEDro databases for studies performed between January 1990 and February 2021. Two independent reviewers screened the studies according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants' characteristics and results were extracted from the study. RESULTS: The initial database search yielded 2455 articles, 11 of which met the inclusion criteria. This review included seven studies in its final analysis; among them, seven determined the prevalence and incidence of shoulder pain, five investigated the factors and mechanisms contributing to shoulder pain, and two reported the treatment and preventive measures. The prevalence of shoulder pain in wheelchair basketball players ranged from 38%-75%, and the incidence of shoulder pain was 14%. Factors/mechanisms included overuse, decreased trunk control, and driving posture. Treatment/preventive measures consisted of shoulder and scapular muscle strengthening and stretching exercises. However, the literature on treatment/prevention was scarce, and its effectiveness was unclear. CONCLUSION: This scoping review confirmed the high prevalence of shoulder pain in wheelchair basketball players; despite this, studies regarding treatment or preventive measures remain lacking. Further studies investigating the mechanism of onset of shoulder pain and the effectiveness of therapeutic and preventive measures are needed in the future.