Humeral torsion differences between throwing and non-throwing arms in professional cricketers: a cross-sectional ultrasound study

This study aimed to investigate humeral torsion in professional cricketers to observe whether differences between the throwing and non-throwing arm exist. A prospective study of twenty-nine professional cricketers in the United Kingdom was performed to assess humeral torsion of the throwing and non-throwing arm using a validated indirect ultrasound method. Humeral torsion measurements were significantly different between the throwing arm, 11.21° (95% CI 8.29–14.45; p < 0.001; SE 1.58) and the non-throwing arm, 23.65° (95% CI 20.21–27.11; p < 0.001; SE 1.74). A mean difference of 12.44° (CI 9.02–15.45; p < 0.001) was observed between the throwing arm and non-throwing arm. The trend towards increased retrotorsion of the throwing arm has important implications for athlete management. It further, informs the interpretation of biomechanical range of motion parameters, employed by those managing throwing athletes to foster insight of these observations and judge if adaptations identified are normal or abnormal.