Journal List > Korean J Sports Med > v.34(1) > 1054574

Oh, Kim, Kim, Kim, and Cho: Sonoelastography on Supraspinatus Muscle-Tendon and Long Head of Biceps Tendon in Korean Professional Baseball Pitchers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the change of supraspinatus muscle and tendon as well as biceps tendon after pitching in Korean professional baseball league pitchers by the application of sonoelastography. A total of 10 pitchers from Korean professional league were evaluated their supraspinatus muscle and tendon and long head of biceps tendon of dominant arm by sonoelastography at all-star break period. After one month later, re-evaluations were performed after pitching in the game. The strain ratio of supraspinatus muscle and tendon (red portion, soft; blue portion, hard), thickness of supraspinatus and long head of biceps tendons were evaluated. For the correlation analysis with pitching, numbers of pitches, maximal velocity, maximal difference of velocity and ratio of breaking balls among pitches were investigated. The strain ratios of supraspinatus muscle, thickness of supraspinatus and long head of biceps tendon were decreased but not statistically significant. However, the strain ratio of red portion in supraspinatus tendon was significantly increased. There were no correlations between sonoelastograpic findings and pitches.

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Fig. 1.
The subject was on chair with his dominant arm at side during the examination.
kjsm-34-28f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Measurement of strain ratio of supraspinatus muscle. Reference box (rectangle box) was located at the subcutaneous fat layer (closed arrow) and the same size of target boxes were located at red portion of supraspinatus muscle (closed arrow with dashed line) and blue portion of supraspinatus muscle (open arrow).
kjsm-34-28f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Measurement of strain ratio of supraspinatus tendon (A), thickness of suprasinatus tendon (B) and biceps long head tendon (C). As in the manners with the measurement of strain ratio in supraspinatus muscle, reference box was located at subcutaneous fat layer (closed arrow), and target boxes were located at red (closed arrow with dashed line) and blue portion of supraspinatus tendon (open arrow) (A). The thickness of supraspinatus tendon (yellow dashed line) was measured with highest thickness at superior facet of greater tuberosity (B) and thickness of biceps long head tendon (yellow dashed line) was measured in the long axis view (C).
kjsm-34-28f3.tif
Fig. 4.
The change of strain ratio after pitching compared to all-star break period at red and blue portion of supraspinatus muscle and tendon. SS: supraspinatus.
kjsm-34-28f4.tif
Fig. 5.
The change of thickness of supraspinatus tendon and biceps long head tendon after pitching compared to all-star break period. SS: supraspinatus, Bc: biceps brachii.
kjsm-34-28f5.tif
Table 1.
Demographic characteristics of pitchers and basic data of the study
Player Role Career (yr) Shoulder disease Mesure-ment Age (yr) Height (cm) Weight (kg) Red portion of SSM Blue portion of SSM Red portion of SST Blue portion of SST Thickness of SST (mm) Thickness of long head of Bc (mm) Throw (n) Proportion of breaking ball Highest of velocity (km/hr) Lowest of velocity (km/hr)
1 Starting 20 Bennett lesion, scapular dyskinesia At resting 30 184 75 4.00 1.49 2.63 0.80 0.80 5.31 0 - - -
After pitching       2.63 1.04 5.88 1.96 1.96 4.29 89 71.9 141 35
2 Starting 22 SLAP, partial rotator cuff tear, posterior instability At resting 32 190 105 6.25 3.57 4.55 1.69 1.69 5.06 0 - - -
After pitching       8.33 1.27 5.88 1.05 1.05 4.29 106 54.7 149 35
3 Middle 14 Bennett lesion, internal impingement At resting 24 183 77 8.33 1.12 7.14 2.08 2.08 6.75 0 - - -
After pitching       5.26 1.47 5.00 0.88 0.88 5.81 10 70.0 149 29
4 Middle 22 SLAP At resting 32 193 100 4.55 1.72 1.69 0.63 0.63 4.45 0 - - -
After pitching       10.00 2.08 4.55 1.67 1.67 4.29 72 52.8 144 22
5 Middle 17 SLAP, internal impingement At resting 27 180 75 12.50 2.86 5.56 1.18 1.18 3.18 0 - - -
After pitching       4.00 1.00 3.70 0.85 0.85 3.1 9 44.4 139 8
6 Starting 14 SLAP surgery (2008) At resting 30 189 91 7.69 1.23 5.88 2.08 2.08 5.66 0 - - -
After pitching       4.55 0.96 8.33 1.05 1.05 4.38 106 73.6 151 25
7 Middle 14 Subscapularis tendinitis, internal impingement At resting 24 181 92 4.35 1.05 3.70 0.78 0.78 5.72 0 - - -
After pitching       2.50 0.78 10.00 1.41 1.41 4.65 18 16.7 145 18
8 Middle 17 Internal impingement At resting 27 177 81 16.67 1.67 3.57 1.28 1.28 5.71 0 - - -
After pitching       4.35 0.91 7.69 2.13 2.13 5.01 18 16.7 148 22
9 Starting 18 GIRD, SLAP At resting 30 186 95 6.67 1.59 4.35 1.45 1.45 4.61 0 - - -
After pitching       4.76 2.22 7.69 1.96 1.96 4.97 104 44.2 158 33
10 Starting 25 SLAP surgery, supraspinatus repair (2014) At resting 35 190 98 12.50 3.85 2.94 1.06 1.06 3.57 0 - - -
pitching After       10.00 2.63 4.17 1.19 1.19 5.16 19 57.9 146 21

SSM: supraspinatus muscle, SST: supraspinatus tendon, Bc: Biceps brachii, SLAP: superior labrum anterior to posterior, GIRD: glenohumeral internal rotation deficit.

Table 2.
Comparisons between strain ratios of supraspinatus muscle and tendon at red and blue portion at all-star break and after pitching
Variable Supraspinatus muscle (SD) Supraspinatus tendon (SD) p-value
Red portion at all-star break 8.35 (4.23) 4.20 (1.65) 0.013
Blue portion at all-star break 2.02 (2.02) 1.30 (0.52) 0.090
Red portion after pitching 5.64 (2.80) 6.29 (2.06) 0.644
Blue portion after pitching 1.44 (0.65) 1.42 (0.48) 0.934

SD: standard deviation.

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