Sacroiliac Stretching Improves Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit of the Opposite Shoulder in Baseball Players in a Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) is a well-documented finding in throwing athletes. Purpose: To investigate whether stretching the contralateral sacroiliac (SI) joint can improve GIRD in baseball players. Method: After internal shoulder rotation was measured in 23 minor league baseball players, the players randomly were assigned to either a control (ie, sleeper stretch of the dominant shoulder) or experimental (ie, SI joint stretch contralateral to the dominant shoulder) group. Afterward, internal rotation (IR) of their dominant shoulders was remeasured. Results: The mean initial end-range IR was 68.6° (SD = 7.9°) in the sleeper stretch group (n = 8) and 64.5° (SD = 5.1°) in the SI joint stretch group (n = 15). After stretching, the sleeper stretch group's mean end-range IR was 72.1° (SD = 7.2°), a 3.5° improvement (P = 0.1058), whereas the contralateral SI joint stretch group's mean end-range IR was 71.9° (SD = 6.6°), a 7.4° improvement (P = 0.0041). Conclusions: Stretching the contralateral SI joint improved GIRD more than the sleeper's stretch.