Jun Sakata1,2, Emi Nakamura3, Tatsuhiro Suzuki4, Makoto Suzukawa5, Masaki Akeda6, Tetsuya Yamazaki6, Todd S Ellenbecker7, Norikazu Hirose1. 1. Faculty of Sports Sciences, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. 2. Department of Rehabilitation, Toyota Memorial Hospital, Aichi, Japan. 3. Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan. 4. Department of Rehabilitation, Midori Clinic, Mie, Japan. 5. Department of Rehabilitation, Yokohama Sports Medical Center, Kanagawa, Japan. 6. Department of Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Yokohama Minami Kyosai Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan. 7. Rehab Plus Sports Therapy, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Throwing injuries of the shoulder and elbow are common among youth baseball players. HYPOTHESIS: A prevention program will reduce the incidence of throwing injuries of the shoulder and elbow by 50% among youth baseball players. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: The authors block randomized 16 youth baseball teams consisting of 237 players aged 9 to 11 years into an intervention group (8 teams, 117 players) and a control group (8 teams, 120 players). The intervention program consisted of 5 stretching, 2 dynamic mobility, and 2 balance training exercises performed during warm-up. Both groups were followed up for 12 months, during which the incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries was recorded. In addition, ball speed during pitching as a performance-related factor and variables of physical function (passive range of motion of the elbow, shoulder and hip, dynamic balance, and thoracic kyphosis angle) were assessed during the pre- and postintervention periods. RESULTS: The incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries in the intervention group (1.7 per 1000 athlete-exposures) was significantly lower than that in the control group (3.1 per 1000 athlete-exposures) (hazard ratio, 1.940; 95% CI, 1.175-3.205; P = .010). The factors related to pitching performance, as assessed by ball speed, tended to increase in the intervention group as compared with the control group (P = .010). The program also improved shoulder horizontal adduction deficits on the dominant side, hip internal rotation on the nondominant side, and the thoracic kyphosis angle. CONCLUSION: A prevention program decreases throwing injuries of the shoulder and elbow and enhances the parameter of pitching performance in youth baseball players.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Throwing injuries of the shoulder and elbow are common among youth baseball players. HYPOTHESIS: A prevention program will reduce the incidence of throwing injuries of the shoulder and elbow by 50% among youth baseball players. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: The authors block randomized 16 youth baseball teams consisting of 237 players aged 9 to 11 years into an intervention group (8 teams, 117 players) and a control group (8 teams, 120 players). The intervention program consisted of 5 stretching, 2 dynamic mobility, and 2 balance training exercises performed during warm-up. Both groups were followed up for 12 months, during which the incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries was recorded. In addition, ball speed during pitching as a performance-related factor and variables of physical function (passive range of motion of the elbow, shoulder and hip, dynamic balance, and thoracic kyphosis angle) were assessed during the pre- and postintervention periods. RESULTS: The incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries in the intervention group (1.7 per 1000 athlete-exposures) was significantly lower than that in the control group (3.1 per 1000 athlete-exposures) (hazard ratio, 1.940; 95% CI, 1.175-3.205; P = .010). The factors related to pitching performance, as assessed by ball speed, tended to increase in the intervention group as compared with the control group (P = .010). The program also improved shoulder horizontal adduction deficits on the dominant side, hip internal rotation on the nondominant side, and the thoracic kyphosis angle. CONCLUSION: A prevention program decreases throwing injuries of the shoulder and elbow and enhances the parameter of pitching performance in youth baseball players.
Authors: Kyle A Matsel; Robert J Butler; Terry R Malone; Matt C Hoch; Philip M Westgate; Tim L Uhl Journal: Sports Health Date: 2021-01-29 Impact factor: 3.843
Authors: Leonard Achenbach; Gunnar Huppertz; Florian Zeman; Johannes Weber; Patrick Luig; Maximilian Rudert; Werner Krutsch Journal: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med Date: 2022-03-11