The epitrochleytis in the baseball pitcher

Aim. Aim of this study is to evaluate the efficaciousness of a programm aiming to prevent relapse of epitrocleytis. This overuse pathology being caused by repeated microtraumas on articular parts of the elbow during constant throwing in baseball game. Methods. Eighty-six baseball players, playing in professional and semiprofessional teams in the area of Parma underwent a screening. Nineteen pitchers were selected, the age varied from 18 to 25 years, who had lamented in the previous twelve months at least two episodes of testified epitrocleytis, none the less at the moment of selection they did not show any painful symptom. An isokinetic test was effected in order to verify the peak torque and power of pronator-supinator muscles, it showed an increase of peak torque and power of pronator muscles. It was well adviced a therapeutical programm to restablish singularly the deficitarious muscles by global reinforcement muscular exercises and specifically isotonic with weights and theraband. Results. The isokinetic test effected after six months from therapeutical preventive treatment underlined a variation statistically meaningful with a medium increase of the peak torque value of 24% and power of 19% for supinator muscles with an angular speed of 90°/sec.; respectively of 26% and 20.6% with angular speed of 180°/sec. A balanced equilibrium between pronator-supinator muscles was successfully achieved. No elbow pathology was present after two years treatment. Conclusion. The muscular unbalance may provoke pathologies in structures musculo tendinous and capsule-ligamentous in baseball game. The improvement of muscular balance resulted by the adviced treatment showed by isokinetic test, has positively influenced the biomechanic of the movement and we believe that was a relevant factor in preventing the frequent relapses. In all those sports in which throwing is particularly elicited, it was necessary a harmonic balance in the muscular structure in particular of pronator and supinator muscles; all this may be achieved by a suitable preventive exercise.