Friday, February 7, 2014

Baseball Development: Thoracic Spine Deficiencies Part 1


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

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