Shoulder Strength and Range of Motion in Healthy Collegiate Softball Players.

CONTEXT: Shoulder range of motion (ROM) and strength are key injury evaluation components for overhead athletes. Most normative values are derived from male baseball players with limited information specific to female softball players.
OBJECTIVE: To determine between-limb differences in shoulder ROM and strength in healthy collegiate softball players.
DESIGN: Descriptive laboratory study.
SETTING: University research laboratory and collegiate athletic training room Participants: Twenty-three healthy collegiate softball players (age=19.9 ± 1.2y; height=170.5 ± 4.3cm; mass=78.4 ± 11.3kg).
INTERVENTIONS: Outcome measures included shoulder ROM (internal [IR] and external rotation [ER]), isometric strength (IR, ER, flexion, abduction [135 degrees], and horizontal abduction), and a measure of dynamic strength (Upper Quarter Y Balance Test [UQYBT]). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Paired sample t-tests were used to determine between limb differences for each outcome measure.
RESULTS: Participants had significantly more ER ROM (12° more) and significantly less IR ROM (12° less) on the dominant arm, relative to the non-dominant arm. There were no significant differences between limbs for any of the isometric strength measures or for the UQYBT reach directions.
CONCLUSIONS: While female collegiate softball players demonstrated typical changes in ER and IR ROM in the dominant arm, they demonstrated relatively symmetrical performance across strength measures, which contrasts with previous studies using male baseball players. © by the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc.