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Measuring 3D In-vivo Shoulder Kinematics using Biplanar Videoradiography
Published on: March 12, 2021
Pathomechanics of the throwing shoulder
W Ben Kibler1, Stephen J Thomas
1Shoulder Center of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40504, USA. wkibler@aol.com
Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Review
|February 8, 2012
Summary
Overhead athletes with painful shoulders often have kinetic chain issues. Evaluating these disabled throwing shoulders requires examining local and distant injuries, plus physiological and biomechanical factors.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Overhead athletes experience shoulder pain due to complex kinetic chain mechanics.
- Alterations in the kinetic chain can lead to force deficits or increased joint loads.
- The "disabled throwing shoulder" (DTS) describes functional limitations in symptomatic overhead athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the kinetic chain alterations in overhead athletes with shoulder pain.
- To define the "disabled throwing shoulder" (DTS) and its underlying causes.
- To emphasize a comprehensive evaluation approach for DTS.
Main Methods:
- Review of anatomic, physiological, and biomechanical factors in overhead athletes.
- Analysis of the kinetic chain mechanics in throwing and serving motions.
- Identification of the "cascade to injury" phenomenon in DTS.
Main Results:
- Symptomatic overhead athletes present with various anatomic, physiological, and biomechanical changes.
- DTS is often a result of a "cascade to injury" involving kinetic chain disruptions.
- Evaluation requires assessing local/distant injuries and physiological/biomechanical factors.
Conclusions:
- A "cascade to injury" model explains DTS development through kinetic chain alterations.
- Comprehensive evaluation of DTS must include local and distant kinetic chain assessments.
- Addressing kinetic chain deficits is crucial for managing disabled throwing shoulders in athletes.
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