Influence of pitching grip on shoulder and elbow injuries in junior baseball players, focusing on hand length and the metacarpophalangeal joint angle.
Naoki Tanaka, Yasutomo Sakai, Wataru Iwamoto and 1 others
PMID 34539066WHAT IT FOUND
Junior baseball players with a straighter index finger knuckle reported more shoulder and elbow pain.
Players with longer hands used a different thumb grip, but thumb position alone did not clearly link to pain history.
Key findings
01Players reporting shoulder or elbow pain had a significantly lower index finger MP angle (more extended) than those without pain.
02Players with longer hands were more likely to use a flexed thumb grip, while those with shorter hands used an extended thumb grip.
03Although there was a statistical difference in pain rates between grip types, the relationship was weak and the authors concluded the two were not related.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study measured grip while holding the ball statically, not during the dynamic motion of pitching. The effect of other hand parts, such as the ring finger and palm, on grip and injury was not considered. The association between grip type and pain was statistically significant but clinically weak.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that changing a player's thumb position will prevent injury. The study found that thumb position alone did not clearly relate to pain, and the link between finger angle and pain was observational.