Gastrocnemius Injuries in Professional Baseball Players: An Epidemiological Study

Abstract

Background: Gastrocnemius injuries are a common lower extremity injury in elite baseball players. There are no current epidemiological studies focused on gastrocnemius injuries in professional baseball players that provide information on the timing, distribution, and characteristics of such injuries. Hypothesis: Gastrocnemius injury in professional baseball players is a common injury that is influenced by factors such as age, player position, and time of season. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiological study. Methods: Based on Major League Baseball’s (MLB’s) Health and Injury Tracking System (HITS) database, gastrocnemius injuries that caused time out of play for MLB and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players during the 2011-2016 seasons were identified. Player characteristics, including age, level of play, and position at time of injury, were collected. Injury-specific factors analyzed included date of injury, time of season, days missed, and activity leading to injury. Results: A total of 402 gastrocnemius injuries (n = 145, MLB; n = 257, MiLB) occurred during the 2011-2016 seasons. MLB players were significantly older at the time of injury (30.1 years, MLB; 23.9 years, MiLB; P < .001). Base running (36.1%) was the most common activity causing the injury, followed by fielding (23.6%), with 50.3% of base-running injuries sustained on the way to first base. In MLB players, gastrocnemius injuries were most common in infielders (48.3%), followed by pitchers (27.6%) and then outfielders (17.9%), while for MiLB players the injuries were more evenly distributed (33.5%, 28.8%, and 30.7%, respectively). The frequency of injuries in MLB players dropped off after the start of the regular season, whereas MiLB players had a consistent injury rate throughout the year. Conclusion: Gastrocnemius injuries are a common cause of lower extremity injury in professional baseball players, resulting in significant time out of play. Base running, particularly to first base, was the most common activity during injury. Outfielders had the fewest injuries; however, they required the longest time to recover. This study provides the first investigation to date with the HITS database to examine the characteristics and distribution of gastrocnemius injuries in professional baseball players, offering insight into risk factors, injury prevention, and recovery expectations.

The Myotendinous Junction—A Vulnerable Companion in Sports. A Narrative Review

“…Muscles which are often exposed to rapid stretch during powerful movements, such as the hamstrings, rectus femoris, hipadductor and calf muscles, are most susceptible to strain injury (Ekstrand et al, 2011;Eckard et al, 2017;Green and Pizzari, 2017;Green et al, 2020;Hultman et al, 2020). Generally, these injuries occur during activities where the muscle is either passively overstretched or during fast eccentric contractions where the MTJ is exposed to high loads during lengthening (Askling et al, 2008;Danielsson et al, 2020;Huygaerts et al, 2020).…”

Lower extremity injuries in the baseball athlete

“…The run to first base from batting is unique due to the preceding truncal rotation, urgent acceleration without the ability to lead, and the ability to maximize speed as first base need not be stopped on, with this particular run previously identified in the literature as posing the highest risk for LE muscular sprain. 33,35 The average time missed due to hamstring strains was 24 days in the major leagues and 27 days in the minor leagues. Pitching accounted for 4%–6% of hamstring strains.…”

“…55 Rapid acceleration, which regularly occurs during the initiation of base running, can result in partial tearing of the gastrocnemius muscle as it forcibly plantarflexes the ankle to begin movement. Hultman et al 35 identified 402 gastrocnemius injuries in the MLB and MiLB between 2011 and 2016, with injuries occurring most frequently during base running (36.1%) and fielding (23.6%). While these injuries only resulted in a mean absence of 12.7 days for MLB players, gastrocnemius injuries are notorious for lingering, with persistent pain or discomfort even as the player returns to participating.…”

Comparative Effect of Myofascial Cupping Therapy to Stretching Exercises on Gastrocnemius Soreness

“…Innervation of the gastrocnemius and its additional heads is provided by the tibial nerve, underscoring its integral role in calf muscle functionality. The muscle's susceptibility to injury is often linked to its connection with the Achilles tendon, a critical aspect of its anatomical structure (4). Additionally, the muscle benefits from the mechanical efficiency of the ankle joint's lever system, facilitating the ease of performing forceful activities (5).…”