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Updated: Mar 15, 2026

A Standardized Method for Measurement of Elbow Kinesthesia
Published on: October 10, 2020
The effect of age on elbow range of motion in pitchers
Yu-Lin Wang1, Hsiao-Yun Chang2, Shih-Chung Cheng3
1Department of Rehabilitation, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; The Center of General Education, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan.
Background:
Alteration of elbow range of motion (ROM) has been observed in baseball pitchers. This study aims to compare dominant elbow ROM between early-puberty, late-puberty, and young-adult pitchers.
Methods:
We recruited 62 pitchers, consisting of 17 early-puberty (mean age 13.1 years old), 22 late-puberty (mean age 17.7 years old), and 23 young-adult players (mean age 19.4 years old). Dominant elbow ROMs was measured. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences in elbow ROM variables between 3 groups.
Results:
Late-puberty pitchers exhibited a significantly lower elbow hyperextension and flexion than early-puberty or young-adult pitchers (P < .05). Valgus angle was significantly lower in young-adult (7.7°±5.5°) versus early-puberty (12.1°±2.3°) and late-puberty pitchers (13.0°±4.1°; P < .05). Young-adult pitchers had the largest forearm supination range (101.2°±18.1°), followed by early-puberty (82.5°±6.5°; P < .05) and late-puberty pitchers (70.6°±15.8°). Elbow flexion-hyperextension total range was smallest in late-puberty pitchers (130.3°±7.4°), followed by young-adult (142.6°±9.3°) and early-puberty pitchers (144.6°±8.3°; P < .05). Forearm pronation-supination total range was also smallest in late-puberty pitchers (142.0°±20.3°), followed by early-puberty (159.8°±9.5°) and young-adult pitchers (177.2°±20.8°; P < .05).
Conclusions:
These results indicate that careful monitoring of the elbow and forearm range of motion should be undertaken in adolescent baseball pitchers to prevent and or minimize injury risk.
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