Use of an Elbow Brace During Repetitive Pitching Does Not Cause an Increased Mechanical Burden on the Throwing Arm

Abstract

Background: Repetitive pitching induces an increase in medial elbow joint space gapping and may consequently lead to local tissue stress and injury. Use of an elbow brace may prevent this from occurring by preventing an increase of medial elbow joint space gapping. However, an elbow brace adds weight to the limb and may increase the burden on the throwing arm.

Objective: To investigate whether use of an elbow brace during repetitive pitching reduces shoulder and arm range of motion and grip strength.

Design: Prospective crossover study.

Setting: University campus.

Participants: Twenty-five healthy high school baseball players.

Methods: Each participant pitched 100 times under two conditions: without an elbow brace (control) and wearing an elbow brace.

Main outcome measurements: Shoulder and elbow range of motion (ROM) before pitching and after every block of 20 pitches. Grip strength before pitching and after 100 pitches.

Results: There was no significant main effect and interaction for ROM between the two conditions and between pitching sets. In both conditions, grip strength after 100 pitches was significantly lower than that before pitching (P < .05). When the two conditions were compared, there was no significant difference before pitching or after 100 pitches.

Conclusions: Use of elbow brace does not alter shoulder and elbow ROM or decrease grip strength after repetitive pitching up to 100 times compared with a no brace condition. An elbow brace can be used during repetitive pitching without causing an increased mechanical burden on the throwing arm.

Level of evidence: II.