BASEBALL PITCHING BIOMECHANICS AFTER SURGERY

Baseball pitchers with and without histories of elbow or shoulder surgery were tested with a 240 Hz automated 3D motion capture system. No differences were found between pitchers with history of UCL reconstruction and matched controls. Pitchers tested shortly after returning from UCL repair demonstrated reduced elbow extension, elbow velocity, and shoulder velocity compared to a control group, but it is unknown whether these few kinematic differences resolve with time. Pitchers with a history of SLAP repair produced less shoulder horizontal abduction, shoulder external rotation, and forward trunk tilt than matched controls. The Thoracic Outlet Syndrome case report demonstrated significantly more shoulder abduction after surgery. Thus the ability to return to normal pitching biomechanics after injury depends upon the type of surgery