Youth throwing athletes do not show bilateral differences in medial elbow width or flexor tendon thickness

• Published in: Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 188 - 194
• Main Authors: Morrow, Rudolph M., McIlvian, Gary E., Johnson, Jenifer, Timmons, Mark K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 대한견주관절의학회 01.09.2022; Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society; 대한견주관절학회
• Subjects: athletic injury; elbow; Original; ulnar collateral ligament; youth injury; 정형외과학; Youth injury; Athletic injury; Elbow; Ulnar collateral ligament
• ISSN: 2383-8337; 2288-8721
• DOI: 10.5397/cise.2022.00766

Background Medial elbow laxity develops in throwing athletes due to valgus forces. Medial elbow instability in professional, collegiate, and high school athletes is well documented; however, the medial elbow of young throwing athletes has received less attention. This study investigated the medial elbow and common flexor tendon during applied elbow valgus stress of youth baseball players. Methods The study included 15 participants. The medial elbow width and thickness of the common flexor tendon were measured on ultrasound images. Results No significant side differences in medial elbow width or common flexor tendon were found at rest or under applied valgus stress. At rest, the medial elbow joint width was 3.34±0.94 mm on the dominant side and 3.42±0.86 mm on the non-dominant side. The dominant side increased to 3.83±1.02 mm with applied valgus stress, and the non-dominant side increased to 3.96±1.04 mm. The mean flexor tendon thickness was 3.89±0.63 mm on the dominant side and 4.02±0.70 mm on the non-dominant side. Conclusions These findings differ from similar studies in older throwing athletes, likely because of the lack of accumulated stress on the medial elbow of youth throwing athletes. Maintaining elbow stability in young throwing athletes is a vital step to preventing injury later in their careers.