Anthropometric measurements as predictors of the degree of carrying angle in college baseball players

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to determine if anthropometric differences (height, weight, bi-acromial distance, hip width, shoulder external rotation) could be predictors of the degree of carrying angle in the throwing elbow of college baseball pitchers, which may be an indicator of decreased conduction velocity of the ulnar nerve. Subjects consisted of healthy Division I Baseball pitchers from Oklahoma State University who have a mean age of 20.25 years. There were a total of 13 subjects that began the study. One subject was excluded because he was a sidearm thrower. These subjects were recruited through the athletic department on a volunteer basis only and did not receive any compensation for their participation.

All of the athletes that chose to participate came to the baseball training room at the allocated time, where they filled out a questionnaire that requested information about the type of pitches thrown, length of baseball career, and any previous orthopedic injuries. After each athlete finished the questionnaire an athletic trainer wrote each athlete's height, weight, and age on the data sheet from an official body composition form used in the athletic department. After all paperwork was finished the measurements were made in the supine position for shoulder external rotation and internal rotation, elbow carrying angle, and in standing for bi-acromial, and inter-trochanteric width.

Findings and Conclusions: Pearson Correlation Coefficient suggests a moderate correlation between the dominant (throwing) side and hip width, and years pitched. The correlations were not high enough to use in linear regression analysis.