Comparison of Glenohumeral Range of Motion Deficits in Youth, Collegiate, and Professional Baseball Players.

The study measured players at one point in time, so it cannot show how range of motion changes over a playing career. Physical maturity was not staged, so players in the younger groups may have overlapped in developmental stage. The pitcher subgroups were small, so pitcher-specific comparisons are less stable. Players with current pain, recent injury or surgery were excluded, so the findings apply to asymptomatic players. Youth, high school and college players were tested in late July, while professional players were tested in March, which may have affected range of motion. The study compared range of motion, not injury outcomes, so it cannot establish whether any pattern predicts injury.

Do not conclude that collegiate or professional pitchers have more side-to-side GIRD or total arc differences than youth players or position players. The side-to-side differences did not reach significance across groups, and the prevalence of GIRD and total arc difference greater than 5° did not differ between pitchers and position players.