Elbow Pain in a Youth Baseball Pitcher

Background: Reducing the number of pitches thrown is regarded as the most effective way to prevent throwing injuries in youth baseball pitchers. However, few studies have compared the effectiveness of limiting the pitch count versus the limiting the number of innings pitched in terms of elbow injuries. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that, compared with inning limits, pitch count limits would lead to greater decreases in elbow pain, range of motion deficits, positive moving valgus stress test results, and the risk of capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed baseball pitchers aged 8 to 12 years in 2017 and 2018. Inning and pitch count limits in games were set to a daily maximum of 7 innings in 2017 and 70 pitches in 2018. Elbow pain, range of motion, and moving valgus stress test results were evaluated. The presence of capitellar OCD was assessed on ultrasonographic and radiographic images. Results: A total of 352 pitchers in 2017 and 367 pitchers in 2018 participated. The mean pitch count per game was lower in the pitch count limit (CL) group (52.5 ± 16.0) than in the inning limit (IL) group (98.2 ± 19.5) ( P < .001). Compared with the IL group, the CL group had significantly lower rates of elbow pain (40.9% vs 31.9%, respectively; P = .01) and reduced flexion (19.0% vs 10.6%, respectively; P = .001). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between elbow pain and age in both the IL and the CL groups ( P < .0001 and P = .02, respectively) and between OCD and elbow pain in the CL group ( P = .04). Conclusion: A pitch count limit of ≤70 pitches per day for baseball pitchers ≤12 years could be more protective against elbow pain and reduced flexion than a limit of ≤7 innings per day, but it may not be effective for reducing the risk of capitellar OCD.

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The Influence of Pitch Velocity on Medial Elbow Pain and Medial Epicondyle Abnormality Among Youth Baseball Players

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/0363546520914911 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (7) ◽

pp. 1601-1607 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Daisuke Kurokawa ◽

Takayuki Muraki ◽

Hiroaki Ishikawa ◽

Kiyotsugu Shinagawa ◽

Hideaki Nagamoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medial Epicondyle ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Elbow Pain ◽

The Past ◽

Youth Baseball ◽

Elbow Injuries ◽

Internal Rotation Angle ◽

Straight Leg Raise ◽

The Relationship

Background: Pitch velocity is associated with elbow injuries among skillful baseball players. However, the relationship between pitch velocity and throwing elbow injuries among youth players has not yet been clarified. Purpose: To investigate the influence of pitch velocity on medial elbow pain and medial epicondyle abnormality among youth baseball players. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The participants consisted of 256 elementary school players (mean age, 11 ± 1 years; range, 9-12 years). The medial aspect of the elbow was evaluated using ultrasound imaging. A questionnaire was used to investigate past or present pain in the elbow, background of the players (age, height, body mass index, and years of baseball experience), and playing environment (number of days of practice in a week, experience as a pitcher, and cryotherapy of the shoulder and elbow after practice). Positioning of the scapula, range of motion in shoulder internal/external rotations and hip internal rotation, angle of the straight-leg raise, and heel-to-buttock distance were measured. The pitch velocity was recorded using a pitch velocity radar gun. The relationship between these variables and the presence of medial epicondyle abnormality, as well as past or present elbow pain, were statistically analyzed. Results: A medial epicondyle abnormality was observed in 130 players (51%), elbow pain in the past in 65 players (25%), and elbow pain during the examination in 14 players (5%). Sixty-nine players (27%) experienced elbow pain either in the past or during examination. Abnormality of the medial epicondyle had a relationship with the pitch velocity (odds ratio [OR], 1.1 for increase of 1 km/h; 95% CI, 1.1-1.2; P < .0001) and the number of practice days in a week (OR, 1.8 for increase of the practice days; 95% CI, 1.4-2.5; P < .0001). Pitch velocity was also significantly related with past pain, present pain, and past and/or present pain of the elbow (OR [km/h], 1.1, 1.1, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0-1.1, 1.0-1.2, 1.1-1.2; P < .0001, P = .002, P < .0001, respectively). Conclusion: Pitch velocity was significantly associated with abnormality of the medial epicondyle and elbow pain. A 10-km/h increase in pitch velocity would increase the risk of medial epicondyle abnormality and medial elbow pain by 3 times.

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Exceeding Pitch Count Recommendations In Youth Baseball Increases The Elbow Injuries

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967118s00126 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (7_suppl4) ◽

pp. 2325967118S0012

Author(s):

Tetsuya Matsuura ◽

Toshiyuki Iwame ◽

Koichi Sairyo

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Multivariate Analysis ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

The United States ◽

Injury Incidence ◽

Elbow Pain ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Youth Baseball ◽

Elbow Injuries

Objectives: With the incidence of Little League elbow increasing, pitch limit recommendations for preventing throwing injuries have been developed in the United States and Japan. In 1995, the Japanese Society of Clinical Sports Medicine announced limits of 50 pitches per day and 200 pitches per week to prevent throwing injuries in younger than 12 years old. However the relationship between pitch limit recommendation and elbow injuries among pitchers has not been adequately studied. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between pitch counts and elbow injuries in youth pitchers. Methods: A total of 149 pitchers without prior elbow pain were observed prospectively for 1 season to study injury incidence in relation to specific risk factors. Average age was 10.1 years (range, 7-11 years). One year later, all pitchers were examined by questionnaire. Subjects were asked whether they had experienced any episodes of elbow pain during the season. The questionnaire was also used to gather data on pitch counts per day and per week, age, number of training days per week, and number of games per year. We investigated the following risk factors for elbow injury: pitch counts, age, position, number of training days per week, and number of games per year. Data were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression models and presented as odds ratio (OR) and profile likelihood 95% confidence interval (CI) values. The likelihood-ratio test was also performed. A two-tailed P value of less than .05 was considered significant. All analysis was done in the SAS software package (version 8.2). Results: Of the 149 subjects, 66 (44.3%) reported episodes of pain in the throwing elbow during the season. 1. Analysis for pitch count per day Univariate analysis showed that elbow pain was significantly associated with more than 50 pitches per day. Multivariate analysis showed that more than 50 pitches per day (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.22-4.94), and more than 70 games per year (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.24-5.02) were risk factors significantly associated with elbow pain. Age and number of training days per week were not significantly associated with elbow pain. 1. Analysis for pitch count per week Univariate analysis showed that elbow pain was significantly associated with more than 200 pitches per week. Multivariate analysis showed that more than 200 pitches per week (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.03-4.10), and more than 70 games per year (OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.22-4.87) were risk factors significantly associated with elbow pain. Age was not significantly associated with elbow pain. Conclusion: A total of 44.3% of youth baseball pitchers had elbow pain during the season. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that elbow pain was associated with more than 50 pitches per day, more than 200 pitches per week, and more than 70 games per year. Previous studies have revealed the risk factor with the strongest association to injury is pitcher. Our data suggest that compliance with pitch limit recommendations including limits of 50 pitches per day and 200 pitches per week may be protective against elbow injuries. Those who played more than 70 games per year had a notably increased risk of injury. With increasing demand on youth pitchers to play more, there is less time for repair of bony and soft tissues in the elbow. In conclusion, among youth pitchers, limits of 50 pitches per day, 200 pitches per week, and limits of 70 games per year may protect elbow injuries.

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