Hideaki Nagamoto1, Nobuyuki Yamamoto1, Daisuke Kurokawa2, Hiroyuki Takahashi3, Takayuki Muraki4, Minoru Tanaka5, Yoichi Koike6, Hirotaka Sano7, Eiji Itoi8. 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aobaku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan. 2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sendai Medical Center, Sendai, Japan. 3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kesennuma City Hospital, Kesennuma, Japan. 4. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. 5. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tohoku Rosai Hospital, Sendai, Japan. 6. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Japan Red Cross Sendai Hospital, Sendai, Japan. 7. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sendai City Hospital, Sendai, Japan. 8. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aobaku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan. itoi-eiji@med.tohoku.ac.jp.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Thickening of the medial ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing arm of adult baseball players is a well-known phenomenon. However, onset of the thickening is unclear among young baseball players. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the thickness of the medial ulnar collateral ligament in junior high and high school baseball players. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-one uninjured and asymptomatic junior high and high school baseball players were included in the study. Participants underwent physical examination after completing a questionnaire, followed by ultrasonographic evaluation. The thickness of the medial ulnar collateral ligament was measured bilaterally. The thickness of the throwing and non-throwing sides in high school and junior high school baseball players, and within each group, was compared and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The medial ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing arm of high school baseball players was thicker than that in the non-throwing arm (5.5 vs. 4.4 mm), although no significant difference was seen in junior high school baseball players. High school baseball players showed a significantly thicker medial ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing arm than junior high school baseball players. CONCLUSION: Thickening of the medial ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing arm of asymptomatic and uninjured baseball players may begin by the time the players reach high school.
BACKGROUND: Thickening of the medial ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing arm of adult baseball players is a well-known phenomenon. However, onset of the thickening is unclear among young baseball players. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the thickness of the medial ulnar collateral ligament in junior high and high school baseball players. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-one uninjured and asymptomatic junior high and high school baseball players were included in the study. Participants underwent physical examination after completing a questionnaire, followed by ultrasonographic evaluation. The thickness of the medial ulnar collateral ligament was measured bilaterally. The thickness of the throwing and non-throwing sides in high school and junior high school baseball players, and within each group, was compared and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The medial ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing arm of high school baseball players was thicker than that in the non-throwing arm (5.5 vs. 4.4 mm), although no significant difference was seen in junior high school baseball players. High school baseball players showed a significantly thicker medial ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing arm than junior high school baseball players. CONCLUSION: Thickening of the medial ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing arm of asymptomatic and uninjured baseball players may begin by the time the players reach high school.
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