The Difference Between Throwing and Practice Volumes in Youth Softball Athletes With and Without Upper Extremity Pain.

Background: Research indicates that mechanics differ between athletes with and without upper extremity pain; however, it is unclear which modifiable risk factors exist for throwing-related pain in softball athletes.

Purpose: To determine whether sport specialization, throwing, practice, and strength and conditioning training volumes vary between youth softball athletes with and without upper extremity pain. It was hypothesized that youth softball athletes with upper extremity pain would participate in softball year-round and have greater throwing, practice, and strength and conditioning volumes compared with those without pain.

Single-Leg Squat and Reported Pain in Collegiate Softball Pitchers.

Background: Single-leg squat (SLS) performance is related to altered mechanics related to injury during the windmill softball pitch; however, it is unknown if SLS kinematics differ between softball pitchers with and without upper extremity pain.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to compare knee valgus, trunk rotation, trunk lateral flexion, and trunk flexion during an SLS in collegiate softball pitchers with and without self-reported upper extremity pain. It was hypothesized that those who reported upper extremity pain would show increased compensatory trunk and knee kinematics compared with those without pain.

Training Background and Characteristics of NFL, MLB, and NBA Team Physicians.

Background: An analysis of the demographics and training of head team physicians (HTPs) in professional sports would be valuable for evaluating training programs and as a resource for aspirant HTPs.

Purpose: To outline common characteristics among professional sport HTPs.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Blood Flow Restriction Using a Pneumatic Tourniquet Is Not Associated With a Cellular Systemic Response.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) using a pneumatic tourniquet on CD34 cells, platelets, white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, lactate, and glucose compared with standard exercise.

Methods: Fifteen healthy volunteers (8 males and 7 females, 28.6 ± 3.

Adolescent Baseball Pitchers With Ulnar Collateral Ligament Tears Exhibit a High Proportion of Partial Tears.

Background: Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears in the throwing elbow are classified according to grade and location using magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA). However, the frequency of each tear type and the association to age, competition level, and radiographic findings in adolescent baseball pitchers are unknown.

Purposes: The primary purpose of this study was to use MRA to characterize the severity, location, and UCL tear type in adolescent pitchers.

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Is Equivalent to Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis at 2 Years: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

Background: Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMC) are being used clinically as therapeutic agents for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of BMC and PRP on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis up to 24 months after injection. It was hypothesized that patients receiving BMC would have better sustained outcomes than those receiving PRP.

Hip Abductor Strength Asymmetry: Relationship to Upper Extremity Injury in Professional Baseball Players.

Background: Hip strength is an important factor for control of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex. Deficits in hip strength may affect throwing performance and contribute to upper extremity injuries.

Hypothesis: Deficits in hip abduction isometric strength would be greater in those who sustained an upper extremity injury and hip strength would predict injury incidence.

Drive-Leg Kinematics During the Windup and Pushoff Is Associated With Pitching Kinetics at Later Phases of the Pitch.

Background: Inconsistent findings exist between drive-leg ground-reaction forces (GRFs) and pitching mechanics. Previous literature has largely reported drive-leg mechanics and GRFs at the start of the pushoff phase for their role in initiating force development. Little research has assessed drive-leg kinematics that includes a pitcher's windup motion to determine its effects on subsequent phases in the pitching motion.

Effectiveness of a Shoulder Exercise Program in Division I Collegiate Baseball Players During the Fall Season.

Background: Deficits in shoulder range of motion (ROM) and strength are associated with risk of arm injury in baseball players.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a standardized exercise program, during the fall season, on shoulder ROM and rotational strength in collegiate baseball players.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Peak Elbow Flexion Does Not Influence Peak Shoulder Distraction Force or Ball Velocity in NCAA Division I Softball Pitchers.

Background: High shoulder distraction force has been observed in softball pitchers during the acceleration phase (top of the pitch to ball release) of a pitch. Increasing elbow flexion may reduce shoulder forces and the susceptibility to pain by shortening the lever arm of the throwing arm.

Purpose: To determine the association of peak elbow flexion during the acceleration phase of the pitch with peak shoulder distraction force and ball velocity.

Cellular Augmentation of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery Is Not Currently Evidence Based: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies.

Purpose: To perform a systematic review of clinical outcome studies exploring cellular augmentation of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, including stem cell techniques.

Methods: A systematic search was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using the Cochrane, PubMed, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) databases from 2000 to 2019. The inclusion criteria were clinical studies that reported on ACL surgery augmented with stem cells or cellular therapy and patient-reported outcome measures or graft healing.

Comparison of Glenohumeral Range of Motion Deficits in Youth, Collegiate, and Professional Baseball Players.

Background: Examining range of motion deficits across levels of baseball competition can result in a better understanding of the extent of altered range of motion patterns and identify competition levels that may require preventative interventions that target the deficits.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare shoulder range of motion in baseball players across levels of competition and compare the prevalence of glenohumeral internal rotaton deficit (GIRD) and total arc of motion differences (TAMD) between competition levels in pitchers and position players.

Study Design: Prospective descriptive cohort.

Association Between Passive Hip Range of Motion and Pitching Kinematics in High School Baseball Pitchers.

Background: Limitations in passive hip range of motion (PROM) may negatively affect pitching mechanics in baseball pitchers. Understanding the relationships between PROM and mechanics can assist in the development of injury prevention protocols.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of hip rotational PROM with pelvis and trunk rotation during pitching in high school baseball pitchers.

Shoulder Range of Motion Deficits in Youth Throwers Presenting With Elbow Pain.

Background: Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) and total arc of motion difference (TAMD) have been associated with elbow injuries in throwing athletes.

Hypothesis: Youth pitchers with elbow pain will have greater GIRD and TAMD compared with youth pitchers without elbow pain.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Professional Baseball Player Type and Geographic Region of Origin Impacts Shoulder External and Internal Rotation Strength.

Background: Shoulder strength deficits are implicated in arm injuries and performance deficits in baseball players.

Purpose: To characterize shoulder external (ER) and internal (IR) rotation strength in professional baseball players, and compare strength across player type (pitchers, position players) and geographic origin (North America, Latin America).

Study Design: Cross-sectional.

Successful Outcomes and Return to Sport After Arthroscopic Bankart Repair in National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Football League Football Players.

Objective: To characterize recurrent instability, return to sport (RTS), and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after arthroscopic Bankart repair for acute traumatic anterior shoulder instability in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Football League (NFL) football players.

Design: Case series.

Setting: Orthopaedic and sports medicine clinic.

Elevation of Peripheral Blood CD34+ and Platelet Levels After Exercise With Cooling and Compression.

Purpose: To analyze the cellular response and chemokine profiles following exercise using cooling and blood flow restriction on the Vasper system.

Methods: Healthy male patients between the ages of 20 and 39 years were recruited. Testing was performed on the Vasper system, a NuStep cross-trainer with concomitant 4-limb venous compression with proximal arm cuffs at 40 mm Hg and proximal leg cuffs at 65 mm Hg.

Mobilized Peripheral Blood Stem Cells are Pluripotent and Can Be Safely Harvested and Stored for Cartilage Repair.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to reproduce and validate the harvest, processing and storage of peripheral blood stem cells for a subsequent cartilage repair trial, evaluating safety, reliability, and potential to produce viable, sterile stem cells.

Methods: Ten healthy subjects (aged 19-44 years) received 3 consecutive daily doses of filgrastim followed by an apheresis harvest of mononuclear cells on a fourth day. In a clean room, the apheresis product was prepared for cryopreservation and processed into 4 mL aliquots.

Hip Abduction Strength: Relationship to Trunk and Lower Extremity Motion During A Single-Leg Step-Down Task in Professional Baseball Players.

Background: The single-leg step down task (SLSD) is a clinical tool to assess movement and control of the lower extremity and trunk. Hip abduction weakness may impact movement quality during the SLSD, however the relationships between movement and strength are unclear.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between hip abduction isometric strength and movement during the SLSD of trunk lean, pelvic drop, knee valgus, and hip flexion.

Blood Flow Restriction Training Using the Delfi System Is Associated With a Cellular Systemic Response.

Purpose: To determine the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise on CD34 cells, platelets, white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, lactate, and glucose.

Methods: Healthy participants aged 20 to 39 years who were able to perform the exercise sessions were recruited. Participants underwent an experimental (EXP) occluded testing session and a control (CON) session using the Delfi Personalized Tourniquet System.

Outcomes After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Revision Reconstruction in Baseball Players.

Background: There is a lack of evidence regarding the success of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) revision reconstruction. Understanding outcomes after UCL revision reconstruction is important in clinical decision making for overhead athletes.

Purpose: To evaluate return to play and patient-reported outcomes after UCL revision reconstruction.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Devices Can Be Used to Isolate Stem Cells From Synovial Fluid at the Point of Care.

Purpose: To assess whether point-of-care devices designed for collecting cellular components from blood or bone marrow could be used to isolate viable stem cells from synovial fluid.

Methods: Male and female patients older than 18 years old with either an acute, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or knee osteoarthritis (OA) with a minimum estimated 20 mL of knee effusion volunteered. Ten patients with an ACL injury and 10 patients with OA were enrolled.

Quantification and Qualification of Stem Cells From Blood After Mobilization With Filgrastim, and Concentration Using a Platelet-Rich Plasma System.

Purpose: To determine the cellular composition of a product created with peripheral blood harvested after systemic mobilization with filgrastim and processed with one point-of-care blood concentrating system, i.e., a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) system.

Preseason shoulder range of motion screening and in-season risk of shoulder and elbow injuries in overhead athletes: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To characterise whether preseason screening of shoulder range of motion (ROM) is associated with the risk of shoulder and elbow injuries in overhead athletes.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Six electronic databases up to 22 September 2018.