Summative Report on Time Out of Play for Major and Minor League Baseball: An Analysis of 49,955 Injuries From 2011 Through 2016

fessional baseball pitchers were collected by use of a 3-dimensional, automated, high-speed optical motion capture system. Anthropometric, kinetic, and kinematic data for both groups were compared by use of t tests (P < .05).Results: American pitchers were taller and heavier and generated greater ball velocity (38.1 ± 1.6 vs 34.7 ± 1.1 m/s; P < .001) than their Japanese counterparts. Most elbow and shoulder kinetic parameters, including elbow varus torque (99 ± 17 vs 86 ± 17 NÁm; P ¼ .018), were greater for American pitchers. However, when normalized by bodyweight and height, shoulder horizontal adduction torque was greater for Japanese pitchers (6.8% ± 1.0% vs 5.8% ± 1.1%; P ¼ .005). Japanese pitchers had longer stride (86% ± 5% vs 82% ± 6% of height; P ¼ .023), greater shoulder abduction at ball release (101 ± 8 vs 94 ± 9 ; P ¼ .014), and greater knee flexion after ball release (39 ± 18 vs 28 ± 14 ; P ¼ .039). Japanese pitchers also demonstrated greater shoulder internal rotation velocity, elbow flexion, and elbow extension velocity.Conclusion: Greater elbow varus torque may predispose American pitchers to greater risk of elbow injury. Japanese pitchers may have increased risk of shoulder injury due to greater normalized horizontal adduction torque and greater abduction angle. Japanese pitchers may be able to reduce their shoulder torque and risk of injury by shortening their stride, reducing their lead knee flexion, and decreasing their throwing arm abduction.Clinical Relevance: Understanding anthropometric, kinetic, and kinematic differences between pitchers from the 2 countries may be of value to clinicians and coaches working to maximize performance of the pitchers while minimizing the risk of injury.

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confidence: 99%

Biomechanical Differences Between Japanese and American Professional Baseball Pitchers

Yoshiya

Slowik

et al. 2019

“…We found that the most injured site was the hamstrings, as observed in other reports as well. [1][2][3]5,[7][8][9]12,15,16 The cause of muscle strain was most often base-running during games. In this motion, the runners step on a base while they stretch their feet forward and, consequently, overstretch the hamstrings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…5 Most studies involving muscle strains in professional sports have been conducted in contact sports involving running and kicking 3,8,[15][16][17] ; studies involving professional baseball are relatively rare. Camp et al 2 analyzed 50,000 injuries occurring during 6 seasons in Major and Minor League Baseball players and found that injuries to the upper extremity occurred in 39% of cases, whereas injuries to the lower extremity occurred in 35% of cases. Of those injuries, the most common was hamstring strain.…”

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confidence: 99%

Muscle Strains in the Lower Extremity of Japanese Professional Baseball Players

Kokubu

Mifune

Kanzaki

et al. 2020

Background: Predicting when athletes can return to play after muscle strains is not always simple because of difficulties in evaluating the severity of such injuries. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to classify lower extremity muscle strains in Japanese professional baseball players. The hypothesis was that MRI grading can be used to diagnose the severity of muscle strains in the lower extremity and predict return to play in athletes. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 55 muscle strains occurred in the lower extremity of players on a professional baseball team between the 2006 and 2015 seasons; all players had undergone MRI examination. Age, player position, location of injury, cause of injury, and duration until return to play (in days) were extracted from the medical records. MRI scans were classified using the following system: grade 0, no abnormal findings; grade 1a, T2-weighted high intensity only between muscles; grade 1b, T2-weighted high intensity between muscles and in muscle belly; grade 2, injury of musculotendinous junction; and grade 3, rupture of tendon insertion. Results: The sites of injuries were distributed as follows: hamstrings (n = 33), quadriceps (n = 6), hip adductors (n = 6), and calves (n = 10). MRI findings revealed 9 muscle strains (16%), 19 grade 1a (34%), 19 grade 1b (34%), and 8 grade 2 muscle strains (16%). The length of time until return to training and competition, respectively, was 15 and 26 days for grade 1a injuries, 19 and 36 days for grade 1b injuries, and 55 and 69 days for grade 2 injuries. Conclusion: Players with grade 1 injuries took 4 to 5 weeks to return to play, whereas players with grade 2 injuries took 10 weeks to return. MRI can be useful for diagnosing lower extremity muscle strains and predicting the time to return to play.

“…Although the injury patterns of MLB athletes have been described previously, there is little understanding of the impact of injuries sustained by athletes before entering the MLB draft. 1,4,16,19,21 Knowledge of these data may help improve decision making by medical, coaching, and franchise personnel prior to drafting these athletes. This study assessed all predraft MLB prospects and compared those who were noninjured (22.8%), had nonoperatively treated musculoskeletal injuries (48.8%), and had operatively treated musculoskeletal injuries (28.5%) over a 5-year period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology and Impact of Prior Musculoskeletal Injury and Orthopaedic Surgery on Draft Rank, Availability, and Short-term Performance in Major League Baseball: A Summary Analysis and Matched Cohort of 1890 Predraft Players

Ramkumar

Navarro

Luu

et al. 2019

Background: Despite the many reports of injury rates in Major League Baseball (MLB), little is known about the epidemiology or impact of prior musculoskeletal injuries and surgical procedures among players entering the MLB draft. Purpose: To determine the (1) epidemiology of all musculoskeletal injuries and surgical procedures among players entering the MLB draft, (2) impact of injury or surgery on draft rank, (3) impact of injury or surgery on availability within the first 2 years of play in the MLB, and (4) impact of injury or surgery on performance.