Vol. 5, Issue 2, Part A (2023)

Background: Due of the constant force placed on the dominant (throwing) hand during the cocking phase, upper extremities in overhead athletes are more vulnerable to injuries than lower ones. Baseball is a sport with a high level of physical exertion, and swinging a bat and tossing a ball both require rotational movement. It heavily relies on the stability and range of motion of the shoulder. Due to the throwing and catching motions, a baseball player's shoulder joint and rotator cuff muscle are constantly subjected to higher repeated stress and strains, which increases their risk of injury. According to other research, 20–70% of shoulder injuries in athletes who perform overhead occur. The soft tissue and skeletal alterations brought on by the shoulder complex's repetitive movements and stresses may modify the ROM of the GH joint by increasing ER and decreasing IR. GIRD might result from an extreme drop in IR in the throwing hand. Due to the recurrent cocking phase, this causes stiffness in the rotator cuff and posterior capsule.
Objective/Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of rotator cuff strengthening exercise along with sleeper stretch vs traditional exercise program in baseball player having glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD).
Method and Materials: To perform this study, 60 baseball players in the age range of 15-25 years were selected and randomized to two categories – rotator cuff strengthening exercise along with sleeper stretch (group A) and traditional exercise program (group B) each with 30 participants. The study was conducted at the Chiman Bagh ground, an outdoor facility located in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. The pre and post testing measured two outcome range of motion and shoulder’s muscular strength.
Result: After 6 weeks of treatment, Mean values of range of motion of Internal rotation in right shoulder in post condition of group A and group B are 64.13 and 56.40. There is a significant difference between mean values of range of motion of Internal rotation in right shoulder in post condition of group A and group B. Calculated t value is 3.66 which is significant at degree of freedom 58 and 0.05 level of significance because calculated t-value is greater than tabulated t-value 2.02.there was a significant increase in ROM (external rotation and internal rotation) and muscular Strength (flexor, extensor, abductor, adductor, internal rotator and external rotator) and also decrease GIRD (internal range of motion) in group A.
Conclusion: The results indicates the positive effect of the rotator cuff strengthening exercise along with sleeper stretch in baseball player having glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD).