This prospective case series tracked 170 pitcher-seasons across 3 years in a single MLB organization. Preseason glenohumeral passive ROM was measured to test whether GIRD or total rotational motion deficit predicts in-season shoulder injury. It is the first published study to prospectively link bilateral TRM assessment to injury outcomes in professional baseball pitchers.
The old screening question was 'does this pitcher have GIRD?' — defined as ≥20° IR loss side-to-side. This paper reframes the question: the more actionable metric is whether total rotational motion (ER + IR) is symmetric within 5°.
When you screen a throwing athlete preseason, measure bilateral ER and IR at 90° abduction with scapular stabilization at the coracoid. If TRM deficit exceeds 5°, place the pitcher on a supervised daily stretching program immediately. That asymmetry carries a 2.5× injury risk.
Watch the upper limit: do not let dominant TRM exceed 176° during rehabilitation. Aggressive IR stretching that overshoots this threshold may shift injury risk rather than eliminate it.
GIRD alone trended toward significance but was not statistically confirmed here. Likely underpowered. So treat it clinically even without definitive proof.
This prospective case series tracked 170 pitcher-seasons across 3 years in a single MLB organization. Preseason glenohumeral passive ROM was measured to test whether GIRD or total rotational motion deficit predicts in-season shoulder injury. It is the first published study to prospectively link bilateral TRM assessment to injury outcomes in professional baseball pitchers.
The old screening question was 'does this pitcher have GIRD?' — defined as ≥20° IR loss side-to-side. This paper reframes the question: the more actionable metric is whether total rotational motion (ER + IR) is symmetric within 5°.
When you screen a throwing athlete preseason, measure bilateral ER and IR at 90° abduction with scapular stabilization at the coracoid. If TRM deficit exceeds 5°, place the pitcher on a supervised daily stretching program immediately. That asymmetry carries a 2.5× injury risk.
Watch the upper limit: do not let dominant TRM exceed 176° during rehabilitation. Aggressive IR stretching that overshoots this threshold may shift injury risk rather than eliminate it.
GIRD alone trended toward significance but was not statistically confirmed here. Likely underpowered. So treat it clinically even without definitive proof.