Risk Factors for Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in Adolescent Baseball Pitchers

AbstractBaseball players frequently injure their shoulders and elbows. Preseason risk factors for such injuries have been relatively well studied, but in-season risk factors are less known, and the relationship between the number of pitches and the incidence of such injuries in baseball pitchers of any level is unclear. Identifying the risk factors related to the number of daily pitches is particularly important to prevent baseball-related arm injuries among young pitchers. Thus, we prospectively investigated the relationship between the number of daily full-power pitches in high school baseball pitchers and the incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries. We observed that a small number of daily full-power pitches, < 30 pitches per day, in high school baseball pitchers, significantly increased the risk of shoulder and elbow injuries: these players had a 2.3-times greater risk of injuries and a 45-day earlier occurrence of injuries than those pitching ≥ 30 pitches per day. Although unexpected, this was plausible as continuous daily pitching is required to maintain physical condition in growing and maturing high school pitchers. These findings may form the basis for establishing guidelines regarding the appropriate number of daily pitches required to prevent shoulder and elbow injuries in high school baseball pitchers.

Download Full-text

An Analysis of Pre-Season Risk Factors for Low Back Injury in High-School Baseball Pitchers: A Prospective Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-153640/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kurumi Nakase ◽

Hitoshi Shitara ◽

Tsuyoshi Tajika ◽

Takuro Kuboi ◽

Tsuyoshi Ichinose ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

High School ◽

Whole Body ◽

Back Injury ◽

Low Back ◽

Shoulder Range Of Motion ◽

Low Back Injury ◽

Significant Independent Risk Factor ◽

Elbow Injuries ◽

Baseball Pitchers

Abstract A pitching motion requires whole-body coordination; therefore, poor control of the lower extremities, pelvis and trunk may cause shoulder and elbow injuries. However, few studies have described the relationship between the shoulder joint function and low back injury in high-school baseball pitchers. In this study, 97 high-school baseball pitchers who underwent pre-season medical checkups were enrolled and their shoulder range of motion and strength were measured. The participants completed a self-recorded questionnaire regarding the presence of low back pain and were divided into injured and non-injured groups. The statistical analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors for low back injury. Low back injury was observed in 13 participants (13.4%). In the injured group, horizontal adduction on the dominant shoulder was significantly less frequent than in the non-injured group. A logistic regression analysis showed that horizontal adduction on the dominant side was a significant independent risk factor for low back injury during the season. It is important to recognize that restriction of the shoulder function not only causes shoulder and elbow injuries but can also risk low back injury.

Download Full-text

Four-year trend in shoulder and elbow injuries in competitive level high school baseball pitchers: A repeated cross-sectional survey

JSES International ◽

10.1016/j.jseint.2021.04.006 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tsuyoshi Sasaki ◽

Hitoshi Shitara ◽

Tsuyoshi Tajika ◽

Takuro Kuboi ◽

Tsuyoshi Ichinose ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Elbow Injuries ◽

Baseball Pitchers

Download Full-text

An analysis of pre-season risk factors for low back injury in high-school baseball pitchers: a prospective study

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-90988-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kurumi Nakase ◽

Hitoshi Shitara ◽

Tsuyoshi Tajika ◽

Takuro Kuboi ◽

Tsuyoshi Ichinose ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Shoulder Function ◽

Whole Body ◽

Back Injury ◽

Low Back ◽

Shoulder Range Of Motion ◽

Low Back Injury ◽

Significant Independent Risk Factor ◽

Elbow Injuries ◽

Baseball Pitchers

AbstractPitching motion requires whole-body coordination; therefore, poor control of the lower extremities, pelvis and trunk may cause shoulder and elbow injuries. However, few studies have described the relationship between the shoulder joint function and low back injury in high-school baseball pitchers. A total of 128 healthy high school pitchers underwent pre-season medical checkups, where their shoulder range of motion and shoulder strength were measured. The participants completed a self-recorded daily questionnaire regarding the presence of low back pain. Pitchers were divided into injured and non-injured groups. Low back injury was observed in 13 participants (13.4%). In the injured group, horizontal adduction on the dominant shoulder was significantly less than in the non-injured group. A logistic regression analysis showed that horizontal adduction on the dominant side was a significant independent risk factor for low back injury during the season. It is important to recognize that restriction of the shoulder function not only causes shoulder and elbow injuries but can also risk low back injury.

Download Full-text

Daily Players’ Satisfaction with Pitching Performance Could Predict Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in High-school Baseball Pitchers: A Prospective Time-to-event Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-163670/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hitoshi Shitara ◽

Tsuyoshi Tajika ◽

Takuro Kuboi ◽

Tsuyoshi Ichinose ◽

Tsuyoshi Sasaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Event Study ◽

Operating Characteristics ◽

Time To Event ◽

Elbow Injury ◽

Shoulder Range Of Motion ◽

Elbow Injuries ◽

Characteristics Analysis ◽

Baseball Pitchers ◽

The Relationship

Abstract The relationship between baseball pitchers’ satisfaction with their own performance and the incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries is unclear. We analyzed the relationship between daily satisfaction scores before injury and incidence of shoulder/elbow injury in high-school baseball pitchers in this prospective, time-to-event study. We collected baseline data on baseball experience, height, weight, elbow and shoulder range of motion, and shoulder muscle strength. The 108 enrolled participants aged 15-17 years were divided into satisfied (88) and unsatisfied (22) groups based on the Receiver operating characteristics analysis results that revealed the cutoff value to be 4 points. The incidence of injury was 10.2% and 50.0% in the satisfied and unsatisfied groups, respectively. We observed that high-school baseball pitchers with a low satisfaction significantly increased the risk of shoulder and elbow injuries: these players had a 7.3-times greater risk of injuries and a 1.9-times earlier occurrence of injuries than pitchers who are satisfied with their performance. High-school baseball pitchers who had low satisfaction with their pitching performance had higher risk of shoulder and elbow injuries and lower time to injury than satisfied pitchers. Daily evaluation of players’ self-satisfaction could predict shoulder and elbow injuries in high-school baseball pitchers.

Download Full-text

Incidence and Risk Factors for the Development of Radiographic Arthrosis After Traumatic Elbow Injuries

The Journal Of Hand Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.jhsa.2010.08.010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 35 (12) ◽

pp. 1976-1980 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Thierry G. Guitton ◽

David Zurakowski ◽

Niek C. van Dijk ◽

David Ring

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Elbow Injuries

Download Full-text

What Can a Jump Tell Us About Elbow Injuries in Professional Baseball Pitchers?

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/0363546520905543 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (5) ◽

pp. 1220-1225

Author(s):

John Mayberry ◽

Scott Mullen ◽

Scott Murayama

Keyword(s):

Test Performance ◽

Injury Risk ◽

Reaction Force ◽

Professional Baseball ◽

Shoulder Injury ◽

Injury Rates ◽

Elbow Injury ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Elbow Injuries ◽

Baseball Pitchers

Background: The incidence rate of elbow injuries has been rising in recent years among professional baseball pitchers. Determining valid screening procedures that allow practitioners to identify pitchers at an increased risk of such injuries is therefore of critical importance. Purpose: To validate the use of countermovement jump (CMJ) tests as a diagnostic tool for pitcher conditioning. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: More than 500 pitchers at a single professional baseball organization performed preseason CMJ assessments on a force plate before the 2013 to 2018 seasons. Three measurements were extracted from ground-reaction force data during the test: eccentric rate of force development (ERFD), average vertical concentric force (AVCF), and concentric vertical impulse (CVI). Athletic trainers at the organization collected detailed information on elbow and shoulder injury rates as well as workload (pitch count) throughout the rest of the season. Poisson regression models were fit to investigate the dependency of injury rates on CMJ test performance. Results: ERFD, CVI, and AVCF were all significant predictors of elbow injury risk after accounting for pitcher age, weight, and workload. The analysis identified 3 specific indicators of heightened risk based on the results of a CMJ scan: low ERFD, a combination of low AVCF and high CVI, and a combination of high AVCF and low CVI. In contrast, shoulder injury risk was roughly independent of all 3 CMJ test measurements. Conclusion: This study supports the hypothesis of the entire kinetic chain’s involvement in pitching by establishing a link between CMJ test performance and elbow injury risk in professional baseball pitchers. CMJ assessment may be a powerful addition to injury risk alert and prevention protocols. Pitchers in high-risk groups can be prescribed specific exercise plans to improve movement imbalances.

Download Full-text