Excessive
Thoracic Kyphosis (Extreme curve/flexion/slouch of mid-spine) exists far too often
throughout the baseball population. Players possessing this deficiency will
appear to have a flattened chest, rounded shoulders, internally rotated upper
arms, anterior tilted, protracted and downwardly rotated scapula (more
protruding), and a forward head posture1,2.
 |
| (Page & Frank, 2007) |
Due to
the extreme throwing demands of the sport, muscular imbalances develop and can
contribute to deficiencies in posture. Janda3,
describes these muscular imbalances as “Upper Crossed Syndrome”. The syndrome develops overtime resulting
in facilitated and inhibited musculature, or shortened and lengthened muscles. Associated
with these imbalances are a wide variety of health issues: “diminished
physical function, impairment of respiratory function, an increase in cervical
pain, headaches and shoulder conditions such as subacromial pain syndrome”4. All these symptoms affect basic health, but
for the baseball population, the shoulder conditions are the issues that light
up the radar.
Researchers have discovered that thoracic kyphosis is associated with a reduction in glenohumeral
movement, specifically limited shoulder flexion. This in turn contributes to Subacromial
Impingement Syndrome2. In other
words, if an athlete is stuck in excessive thoracic kyphosis, a cranky and
aggravated shoulder will be produced during the overhead throwing motion. When a
baseball player struggles to efficiently get into an overhead position, the performance
of that athlete will undoubtedly decrease.
The question that needs to be asked and answered is: What can be
done? Stay tuned next week for corrective exercises that will increase
performance and can be incorporated into practice, strength training and daily
routines.
1) Cressey,
E., Hartman, B., & Robertson, M. (2009). Assess & correct: Breaking barriers to unlock performance. Indianapolis,
IN: Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training.
2) Lewis, J. S., Wright, C., & Green, A. (2005). Subacromial impingement syndrome: The
effect of changing posture on shoulder
range of movement. Journal
of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 35
(2), 72-87. Retrieved from
3)
Page, P., & Frank, C. (2007). The Janda Approach to Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain. Retrieved from
4)
Lewis, J. S., & Valentine, R. E. (2011). Clinical
measurement of the thoracic kyphosis: A study of the intra-rater reliability in
subjects with and without shoulder pain. BMC
Musculoskeletal Disorders, 11 (39), 1-8. Retrieved from
No comments:
Post a Comment