17 Considering the consequences of upper extremity injuries in baseball players and the fact that more and more young competitive pitchers are sustaining severe injuries, the need for research on injury prevention is greater than ever.9 Potential risk factors for upper extremity injuries CP673451 in baseball players can be categorized into unsafe participation practice,1, 6, 7, 10 and 19 suboptimal physical characteristics,20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 and improper pitching techniques.26, 27, 28, 29,

30, 31, 32 and 33 These studies allude to three potential approaches to preventing pitching-related upper extremity injures: 1) regulation of unsafe participation factors, 2) exercise intervention to modify suboptimal physical characteristics, and 3) instructional intervention to correct

improper pitching techniques. Participation factors that have been linked to injuries include the number of Selleck BI 2536 pitches performed in a single outing and over a course of season.1, 6, 7, 10 and 19 Based on these findings, Little League™ Baseball mandates pitch count limits to participating pitchers, and USA Baseball Medical Safety Board recommends age-specific pitch counts and rest periods to protect pitchers from overuse injuries. Physical characteristics that have been linked to upper extremity injuries in baseball players include shoulder and trunk range of motion,20, 22, 24, 34, 35 and 36 shoulder strength,37 humeral retrotorsion,38, 39 and 40 and scapular kinematics.25 It has been demonstrated CYTH4 in a number of studies that most of these physical characteristics could be improved with strengthening and stretching exercises.35, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 Although there are few studies that demonstrates the effects of these exercises on injury risk reduction,43

more and more sports medicine clinicians are implementing exercise programs in hopes to prevent injuries in overhead athletes. Compared to a large number of studies that investigate participation factors and physical characteristics that are linked to injuries, there are a limited number of studies examining pitching techniques that are associated with injuries. Furthermore, no studies to date have examined the effects of pitching technique instruction on joint loading or reports of injury. Better understanding of pitching techniques that place undue stress on the shoulder and elbow joints, and implementation of an instructional program on proper pitching technique may help prevent pitching-related upper extremity injuries that occur due to poor technique. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to explore the utility of pitching technique instruction on prevention of pitching-related upper extremity injuries.