Influence of Baseball Training Load on Clinical Reach Tests and Grip Strength in Collegiate Baseball Players

Abstract

Context A baseball-specific training load may influence strength or glenohumeral range of motion, which are related to baseball injuries. Glenohumeral reach tests and grip strength are clinical assessments of shoulder range of motion and upper extremity strength, respectively. Objective To examine changes in glenohumeral reach test performance and grip strength between dominant and nondominant limbs and high, moderate, and low baseball-specific training load groups. Design Repeated-measures study. Setting University laboratory and satellite clinic. Patients or Other Participants Collegiate baseball athletes (n = 18, age = 20.1 ± 1.3 years, height = 185.0 ± 6.5 cm, mass = 90.9 ± 10.2 kg). Main Outcome Measure(s) Participants performed overhead reach tests (OHRTs), behind-the-back reach tests (BBRTs), and grip strength assessments using the dominant and nondominant limbs every 4 weeks for 16 weeks. Percentage change scores were calculated between testing times. After each training session, participants provided their duration of baseball activity, throw count, and body-specific and arm-specific ratings of perceived exertion. We classified them in the high, moderate, or low training load group based on each training load variable: body specific acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR), arm-specific ACWR, body-specific cumulative load, and arm-specific cumulative load. Mixed models were used to compare training load groups and limbs. Results The arm-specific ACWR group demonstrated a main effect for OHRT (F = 7.70, P = .001), BBRT (F = 4.01, P = .029), and grip strength (F = 8.89, P < .001). For the OHRT, the moderate training load group demonstrated a 10.8% greater increase than the high group (P = .004) and a 13.2% greater increase than the low group (P < .001). For the BBRT, the low training load group had a 10.1% greater increase than the moderate group (P = .011). For grip strength, the low training load group demonstrated a 12.1% greater increase than the high group (P = .006) and a 17.7% greater increase than the moderate group (P < .001). Conclusions Arm-specific ACWR was related to changes in clinical assessments of range of motion and strength. Clinicians may use arm-specific ACWR to indicate when a baseball athlete's physical health is changing.

Examining the Usability of Workload Monitoring in Firefighter Recruits

“…The design of this study included sending the survey link via text message, which eliminated face-to-face contact and may have more heavily relied on the intrinsic motivation of the participant to complete the survey 40 . Our findings are supported by a recent study examining training load within collegiate baseball players via a smartphone app, which found adherence rates of 25% to 31% 42 . Recently, self-tracking of health and physical activity through app-based interfaces has been growing more popular with the advancement of smartphones 24 .…”

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Baseball: 2014–2015 Through 2018–2019

“…[28][29][30] However, few researchers have investigated this subject in collegiate athletes. 31 Although workload management is theoretically logical, the evidence to support their effects on reducing the burden of risk remains mixed as it pertains to all positions other than pitchers (infielders, outfielders, and catchers). This is partly due to heterogeneity across metrics used and outcomes measured.…”