Maxx
04-05-2007, 10:06 AM
Here's an excerpt from the training journal for baseball published by the NSCA.
Recent data suggest that a four fold
increase in shoulder and elbow injuries
has occurred when comparing the time
periods 1994 – 1999 and 2000 – 2004.
Researchers at the American Sports
Medicine Institute in Birmingham,
Alabama recently performed a survey
based study in order to determine what
factors might be contributing to this
alarming increase in injuries. Ninety-
fi ve adolescent pitchers who had either
shoulder or elbow surgery and 45 adolescent
pitchers who never had a pitching
related injury were recruited for this
investigation. Th ree major categories
were assessed by the survey: 1) nonmodifi
able factors, 2) preventive measures,
and 3) competitive habits. When comparing
the injured and control groups
there were no diff erences in age and
number of years pitching. Conversely,
the injured pitchers were signifi cantly
taller and heavier than the control
group. Th e largest fi nding was that the
injured group pitched signifi cantly more
months per year, games per year, innings
per game, pitches per game, pitches per
year, and warm-up pitches prior to a
game. Additionally, the injured pitchers
tended to pitch at higher velocities and
utilize anti-infl ammatory drugs and ice
more frequently than the control group.
When looking at the total data set the
researchers determined that injury risk
increases fi ve fold when young athletes
pitch more than eight months per year,
and increases four fold when pitch more
than 80 pitches per game. Finally, it was
determined that injury rates increased
by 2.58 times when pitching fastballs
at speed greater than 85 miles per hour.
Based upon these fi ndings the researchers
suggested that overuse and fatigue
may be the primary cause of increased
elbow and shoulder injuries in baseball
pitchers.
Olsen SJ, Fleisig GS, Dun S, Lftice
J, Andrews JR. (2006) Risk factors for
shoulder and elbow injuries in adolescent
baseball players. American Journal
of Sports Medicine, 34(6):905 – 912.
Link to entire journal:
http://www.nsca-lift.org/Perform/Issues/0602.pdf
Recent data suggest that a four fold
increase in shoulder and elbow injuries
has occurred when comparing the time
periods 1994 – 1999 and 2000 – 2004.
Researchers at the American Sports
Medicine Institute in Birmingham,
Alabama recently performed a survey
based study in order to determine what
factors might be contributing to this
alarming increase in injuries. Ninety-
fi ve adolescent pitchers who had either
shoulder or elbow surgery and 45 adolescent
pitchers who never had a pitching
related injury were recruited for this
investigation. Th ree major categories
were assessed by the survey: 1) nonmodifi
able factors, 2) preventive measures,
and 3) competitive habits. When comparing
the injured and control groups
there were no diff erences in age and
number of years pitching. Conversely,
the injured pitchers were signifi cantly
taller and heavier than the control
group. Th e largest fi nding was that the
injured group pitched signifi cantly more
months per year, games per year, innings
per game, pitches per game, pitches per
year, and warm-up pitches prior to a
game. Additionally, the injured pitchers
tended to pitch at higher velocities and
utilize anti-infl ammatory drugs and ice
more frequently than the control group.
When looking at the total data set the
researchers determined that injury risk
increases fi ve fold when young athletes
pitch more than eight months per year,
and increases four fold when pitch more
than 80 pitches per game. Finally, it was
determined that injury rates increased
by 2.58 times when pitching fastballs
at speed greater than 85 miles per hour.
Based upon these fi ndings the researchers
suggested that overuse and fatigue
may be the primary cause of increased
elbow and shoulder injuries in baseball
pitchers.
Olsen SJ, Fleisig GS, Dun S, Lftice
J, Andrews JR. (2006) Risk factors for
shoulder and elbow injuries in adolescent
baseball players. American Journal
of Sports Medicine, 34(6):905 – 912.
Link to entire journal:
http://www.nsca-lift.org/Perform/Issues/0602.pdf