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Citation
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Chalmers PN, Sgroi T, Riff AJ, Lesniak M, Sayegh ET, Verma NN, Cole BJ, Romeo AA. Arthroscopy 2015; 31(7): 1349-1357. |
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Affiliation
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Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. |
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Abstract
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PURPOSE: To determine the factors within pitcher demographic characteristics, pitching history, and pitch kinematics, including velocity, that correlate with a history of pitching-related injury.
METHODS: Demographic and kinematic data were collected on healthy youth and adolescent pitchers aged 9 to 22 years in preseason training during a single preseason using dual orthogonal high-speed video analysis. Pitchers who threw sidearm and those who had transitioned to another position were excluded. Players were asked whether they had ever had a pitching-related shoulder or elbow injury. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed on those variables that correlated with a history of injury.
RESULTS: Four hundred twenty pitchers were included, of whom 31% had a history of a pitching-related injury. Participant height (P =.009, R(2) = 0.023), pitching for more than 1 team (P =.019, R(2) = 0.018), and pitch velocity (P =.006, R(2) = 0.194) served as independent correlates of injury status. A model constructed with these 3 variables could correctly predict 77% of injury histories. Within our cohort, the presence of a 10-inch increase in height was associated with an increase in a history of injury by 20% and a 10-mph increase in velocity was associated with an increase in the likelihood of a history of injury by 12%. Playing for more than 1 team increased the likelihood of a history of injury by 22%.
CONCLUSIONS: Pitch velocity, pitcher height, and pitching for more than 1 team correlate with a history of shoulder and elbow injury. Current recommendations regarding breaking pitches may not prevent injury. Pitchers should be cautioned about pitching for more than 1 team. Taller pitchers and high-velocity pitchers may be at risk of injury.
Language: en |