Sports Participation and Humeral Torsion

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE: To examine differences between arms in humeral torsion in adult and adolescent throwing and nonthrowing athletes, and nonathletic adults. BACKGROUND: It is hypothesized that humeral retrotorsion develops by, and is beneficial for, throwing. Thus throwers should demonstrate greater retrotorsion in their dominant arm relative to their nondominant arm and have more side-to-side retrotorsion difference than nonthrowing groups. In addition, adult throwers should have a greater side-to-side retrotorsion difference than adolescent throwers, and swimmers should not demonstrate a retrotorsion difference. METHODS AND MEASURES: Using ultrasound to standardize the location of the bicipital groove, the amount of humeral torsion was measured in both arms of male baseball players (85 adult, 35 adolescent), female softball players (16 adult, 37 adolescent), 29 elite adolescent swimmers (19 female), and 16 nonathletic adults (8 female). RESULTS: More retrotorsion was found in the dominant arm of almost all throwing athletes, irrespective of their gender or whether they were adults or adolescents (mean +/- SD side-to-side difference, 11.9 degrees +/- 10.5 degrees). This difference was less for swimmers (6.4 degrees +/- 9.9 degrees) and nonathletic adults (1.3 degrees +/- 8.9). CONCLUSION: Greater dominant arm humeral retrotorsion is observed contingent with participation in throwing sports. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2009;39(4):256-263. doi:10.2519/jospt.2009.2821