Regionally Interdependent Applications of TMR® and Active Rotational Shoulder Range of Motion in Overhead Athletes

Authors

  • Rollin Ross Dexter University of Idaho; Gritman Medical Center
  • Treylan K Loftis University of Idaho; Positional Release Therapy Institute
  • Russell T Baker University of Idaho
  • Timothy E Speicher Positional Release Therapy Institute

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31622/2019/0002.4

Keywords:

Injury Risk Reduction; Performance Readiness; Therapeutic Exercise; Throwing Athletes; Volleyball; Baseball

Abstract

Healthy athletes commonly engage in pre-participation warm-up strategies designed to physiologically and mechanically prepare the body for training and competition. Alterations in rotational range of motion (ROM) of the dominant shoulder in overhead athletes, resulting in total rotation ROM loss, correlate with performance deficit, injury risk, and lost training time. Researchers have suggested that interventions using Total Motion Release® (TMR®) increase shoulder ROM more effectively than traditional warm-up methods. A randomized pre-test post-test trial was used to explore the effects of a regionally interdepedant application of TMR® via a forward flexed trunk twist (FFTT) and seated straight leg raise (SLR) compared to a traditionally designed athletic warm-up on active shoulder internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) in healthy overhead athletes measured with the Clinometer smartphone application. Participants included twenty-two NCAA Division I, III, Club, and Secondary School senior student-athletes (9 javelin, 7 volleyball, 6 baseball; 13-females, 9-males; age= 19.3 ± 1.1 years; height= 178 ± 11.4 cm; weight= 76.4 ± 11.2 kg), randomly assigned to TMR® (TMRG; n=11) and traditional warm-up (TWG; n=11) groups. The TMRG performed 3 sets of FFTT and SLR, each held for 20 seconds to the side of ease. The TWG completed a traditionally designed athletic warm-up including running, athletic drills, and dynamic and static stretching. The TMRG experienced significantly greater increases in dominant shoulder IR, non-dominant shoulder IR, and non-dominant shoulder ER (mean change = +9.5°, +7.5o, +4.7o), than the TWG (+1.7°, -6.7°, -4°) respectively. Intervention time to completion was also different between groups (TMRG = 7 minutes TWG = 25 minutes). This study indicates that an indirect TMR® application produces efficient meaningful changes in rotational active range of motion (AROM) of the shoulder in overhead athletes.

Author Biographies

Treylan K Loftis, University of Idaho; Positional Release Therapy Institute

Treylan K. Loftis is an athletic trainer, and certified Positional Release Therapist who works as a clinical faculty member at the Positional Release Therapy Institute. Treylan graduated from the University of Idaho’s Master of Science in Athletic Training program. His research interests include neuroscience, rehabilitation, and therapeutic exercise.

Russell T Baker, University of Idaho

Russell T. Baker is a clinical assistant professor and the director of the MSAT program at the University of Idaho. His research interests include the rehabilitation of acute and chronic musculoskeletal pathologies using manual therapy and patient reported outcome instrument psychometrics.

Timothy E Speicher, Positional Release Therapy Institute

Timothy E. Speicher is an athletic trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and educator, and is the founder and President of the Positional Release Therapy Institute. Dr. Speicher has held instructor, faculty, and program director positions in athletic training at several universities including; Rocky Mountain University of Health Sciences, Sacred Heart University, Weber State University, University of Maine at Presque Isle, and University of Idaho. In 2002, Dr. Speicher was a medical supervisor for the Winter Olympic Games held in Salt Lake City Utah.

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Published

2019-06-25

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2019): Celebrating Our First Year

Section

Clinical Outcomes Research

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