Arthroscopic findings in the overhand throwing athlete: evidence for posterior internal impingement of the rotator cuff

Arthroscopy. 2000 Jan-Feb;16(1):35-40. doi: 10.1016/s0749-8063(00)90125-7.

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe the outcome of an arthroscopic examination and the pathology in symptomatic shoulders of 41 professional overhand throwing athletes. With the arm in the position of the relocation test, 100% of the subjects had either contact between the rotator cuff undersurface and the posterosuperior glenoid rim or osteochondral lesions. Other key findings included undersurface cuff fraying in 93%, posterosuperior labral fraying in 88%, and anterior labral fraying in 36% of the subjects. This study supports the concept of impingement of the posterior cuff undersurface with the posterosuperior glenoid rim in the overhand throwing athlete with shoulder pain.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Arthroscopy*
  • Baseball / injuries*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Joint Capsule / injuries
  • Joint Capsule / pathology
  • Joint Capsule / surgery
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rotator Cuff / pathology
  • Rotator Cuff / surgery
  • Rotator Cuff Injuries*
  • Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / etiology
  • Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / therapy
  • Shoulder Injuries*
  • Shoulder Joint / pathology
  • Shoulder Joint / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome