MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES AND RELATED BIOMECHANICS FOR YOUTH BASEBALL PITCHING

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (02) ◽  
pp. 1530001
Author(s):  
Derek Damrow ◽  
Xue-Cheng Liu ◽  
Shayne Fehr

An estimated 3 million youth participate in youth baseball. The purpose of this review is to highlight musculoskeletal development and specific throwing-related injuries in youth baseball players, as well as the current knowledge of pitching biomechanics, which are closely intertwined with the both arm development and injuries. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to highlight musculoskeletal development, throwing-related injuries and pitching mechanics. Results: Youth athletes are actively going through skeletal maturation which includes the formation of new bone at the epiphyseal plate, increasing muscle mass and/or strength, and morphological changes in tendons and ligaments. These processes setup youth pitchers to sustain throwing injuries at their shoulder and elbow in ways that differ from their adult counterparts. Faulty pitching biomechanics may also cause throwing injuries. Deviation from proper mechanics at any point can cause injuries in the shoulder and elbow. Conclusion: Many musculoskeletal changes occur during the development of a youth baseball player. Some of these changes are beneficial for improving throwing performance, but also predispose the athlete to injury. Improper biomechanics may be related to the throwing-related injuries that are seen in youth baseball players.

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 232596711984563 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Trofa ◽  
Kyle K. Obana ◽  
Hasani W. Swindell ◽  
Brian Shiu ◽  
Manish S. Noticewala ◽  
...  

Background: Youth athletes are starting sports earlier and training harder. Intense, year-round demands are encouraging early sports specialization under the perception that it will improve the odds of future elite performance. Unfortunately, there is growing evidence that early specialization is associated with increased risk of injury and burnout. This is especially true of pediatric and adolescent baseball players. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this investigation was to analyze national injury trends of youth baseball players. We hypothesized that while the total number of baseball injuries diagnosed over the past decade would decrease, there would be an increase in adolescent elbow injuries seen nationally. A further hypothesis was that this trend would be significantly greater than other injuries to the upper extremity and major joints. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Injury data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a United States Consumer Product Safety Commission database, were analyzed between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2016, for baseball players aged ≤18 years. Data were collected on the location of injury, diagnosis, and mechanism of injury. Results: Between 2006 and 2016, an estimated 665,133 baseball injuries occurred nationally. The mean age of the injured players was 11.5 years. The most common injuries diagnosed included contusions (26.8%), fractures (23.6%), and strains and sprains (18.7%). Among major joints, the ankle (25.6%) was most commonly injured, followed by the knee (21.3%), wrist (19.2%), elbow (17.7%), and shoulder (16.2%). The incidence of the ankle, knee, wrist, and shoulder injuries decreased over time, while only the incidence of elbow injuries increased. A linear regression analysis demonstrated that the increasing incidence of elbow injuries was statistically significant against the decreasing trend for all baseball injury diagnoses, as well as ankle, knee, wrist, hand, and finger injuries ( P < .05). Additionally, the only elbow injury mechanism that increased substantially over time was throwing. Conclusion: The current investigation found that while the incidence of baseball injuries sustained by youth players is decreasing, elbow pathology is becoming more prevalent and is more commonly being caused by throwing. Given that the majority of elbow injuries among adolescent baseball players are overuse injuries, these findings underscore the importance of developing strategies to continue to ensure the safety of these youth athletes.


Author(s):  
ILBONG PARK ◽  
CHANHEE PARK ◽  
KYOUNGTAE KIM ◽  
YOUNGJOO CHA

While the presence of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) has been provided as an important component of the integrated spinal stabilization and associated abdominal stabilization prior to dynamic movement, no previous study has investigated the spinal mechanical effects scoliosis and pain control in youth baseball player with scoliosis. This study compared the effects of gymball exercise, with and without DNS core stability exercise, on spine kinematics and pain control in youth baseball player with scoliosis. A total of 28 participants with scoliosis were randomized into gymball exercise, with and without DNS core stability exercise. Clinical outcomes included the Cobb’s angle and visual analog scale (VAS). Two-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted at [Formula: see text]. Two-way repeated ANOVA showed that gymball with DNS showed superior effects, compared to gymball without DNS, on Cobb’s angle ([Formula: see text]), but not on VAS ([Formula: see text]). Our results provide novel, promising clinical evidence that DNS improved scoliosis kinematics as well as pain control in youth baseball player with scoliosis.


Author(s):  
Garrett S. Bullock ◽  
Edward C. Beck ◽  
Gary S. Collins ◽  
Stephanie R. Filbay ◽  
Kristen F. Nicholson

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 759
Author(s):  
Gaku Yamanaka ◽  
Fuyuko Takata ◽  
Yasufumi Kataoka ◽  
Kanako Kanou ◽  
Shinichiro Morichi ◽  
...  

Pericytes are a component of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) neurovascular unit, in which they play a crucial role in BBB integrity and are also implicated in neuroinflammation. The association between pericytes, BBB dysfunction, and the pathophysiology of epilepsy has been investigated, and links between epilepsy and pericytes have been identified. Here, we review current knowledge about the role of pericytes in epilepsy. Clinical evidence has shown an accumulation of pericytes with altered morphology in the cerebral vascular territories of patients with intractable epilepsy. In vitro, proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, TNFα, and IL-6, cause morphological changes in human-derived pericytes, where IL-6 leads to cell damage. Experimental studies using epileptic animal models have shown that cerebrovascular pericytes undergo redistribution and remodeling, potentially contributing to BBB permeability. These series of pericyte-related modifications are promoted by proinflammatory cytokines, of which the most pronounced alterations are caused by IL-1β, a cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Furthermore, the pericyte-glial scarring process in leaky capillaries was detected in the hippocampus during seizure progression. In addition, pericytes respond more sensitively to proinflammatory cytokines than microglia and can also activate microglia. Thus, pericytes may function as sensors of the inflammatory response. Finally, both in vitro and in vivo studies have highlighted the potential of pericytes as a therapeutic target for seizure disorders.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 232596711770770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenichi Otoshi ◽  
Shinichi Kikuchi ◽  
Kinshi Kato ◽  
Ryohei Sato ◽  
Takahiro Igari ◽  
...  

Background: Traction apophysitis of medial epicondyle (MEC) lesions and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the capitellum are common elbow injuries in adolescent baseball players. However, the age-specific prevalence of these pathologies and their influence on elbow pain remain unknown. Purpose: To investigate the age-specific prevalence of each MEC lesion and capitellar OCD and to identify the incidence of elbow pain in each condition. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Study participants consisted of 4249 baseball players aged 6 to 17 years. A questionnaire was used to assess history of elbow pain, and morphological changes of the elbow joint were assessed using ultrasonography. Results: Regarding MEC lesions, fragmented (FG) and irregular (IR) lesions both reached their greatest respective prevalence at 11 to 12 years of age. After 14 years of age, IR decreased sharply, whereas FG was maintained at approximately 10%. Hypertrophic (HT) lesions increased sharply, reaching over 50% at 16 years of age, while there was a decrease in IR and FG lesions in the same age group. The prevalence of capitellar OCD remained the same (approximately 2%) throughout all ages except for in players aged 7 to 8 years (>7%). Players with MEC lesions had significantly greater prevalence of a history of elbow pain compared with those without (68.0% vs 39.1%) and were at a significantly greater risk for FG lesions (odds ratio [OR], 4.04; 95% CI, 3.16-5.22) compared with IR (OR, 3.22; 95% CI, 2.44-4.27) and HT lesions (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.75-2.36). Players with capitellar OCD also had a significantly greater risk of a history of elbow pain (OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.40-4.11). Conclusion: Controlling the amount of practice and its intensity according to the condition of each player in the preadolescent and adolescent periods may be important in accelerating bony healing and decreasing preventable elbow pain in adulthood.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Rour Lee ◽  
Laurentius Jongsoon Kim

Context:Many studies have explored closed kinetic chain (CKC) shoulder exercises (SEs) with a sling because they are safer and more effective than open-chain exercises, especially in early stages of treatment. However, the application of CKC SE in youth baseball players has rarely been attempted, although teenage baseball players also experience shoulder pain.Objective:To investigate the effects of CKC SE on the peak torque of shoulder internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) in youth baseball players.Design:Single-group pretest, posttest.Setting:Biomechanics laboratory.Participants:23 Little League Baseball players with subacromial impingement syndrome.Interventions:The CKC SE with a sling was CKC shoulder-flexion exercise, extension exercise, IR exercise, and ER exercise. This exercise regimen was conducted 2 or 3 times/wk for 8 wk.Main Outcome Measures:The peak torque of shoulder IR and ER was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Concentric shoulder rotation was performed, with 5 repetitions at an angular velocity of 60°/s and 15 at 180°/s.Results:The IR and ER peak torque significantly increased at each angular velocity after the exercise program. In particular, the increase in IR and ER peak torque values was statistically significant at an angular velocity of 180°/s.Conclusions:CKC SE was effective in increasing shoulder IR and ER strength, demonstrating its potential benefits in the prevention and treatment of shoulder injury. In addition, increased IR peak torque appears to improve throwing velocity in baseball players.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 232596712110525
Author(s):  
Ali S. Farooqi ◽  
Alexander Lee ◽  
Eric Abreu ◽  
Divya Talwar ◽  
Kathleen J. Maguire

Background: Baseball and softball are popular sports in the United States and are responsible for a large number of youth sports injuries each year. Purpose: To investigate recent differences in youth baseball and softball injuries evaluated in nationwide emergency departments. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was examined for softball and baseball injuries in pediatric patients (age, 7-21 years) from 2010 through 2019. Patients were classified as children (age, 7-13 years), adolescents (age, 14-18 years), or young adults (age, 19-21 years). Case narratives were used to categorize injuries as contact injuries (hit by bat or ball), field injuries (sliding into base, collision with another player, catching, or running), throwing injuries, or other. Results: An unweighted total of 24,717 baseball injuries and 13,162 softball injuries were recorded. A nationwide estimate of 861,456 baseball injuries and 511,117 softball injuries were sustained during the studied time period, with estimated respective injury rates of 86,146 and 51,112 per year. Injured softball players were most commonly adolescent (47%) and female (92%), while injured baseball players were most commonly children (54%) and male (90%). There was a greater proportion of baseball-related injuries involving the head/neck (41%) as compared with softball-related injuries (30%) ( P < .01). Conversely, a greater proportion of softball-related injuries involved the lower extremity (32%) as compared with baseball-related injuries (19%) ( P < .01). When comparing diagnosis, softball injuries were more often sprains/strains (28%) than baseball injuries (18%) ( P < .01). When comparing mechanisms of injury, baseball athletes were more likely to be evaluated with contact injuries than were softball athletes (49% vs 40%, P < .01). Conclusion: Youth baseball athletes were more likely to be injured through contact mechanisms and had a higher proportion of injuries related to the head/neck/face, whereas softball injuries more frequently involved the lower extremity and resulted in a sprain/strain. League guidelines should focus on reducing contact injuries within youth baseball, and injury-prevention programs should focus on reducing lower extremity injuries in youth softball.


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