Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in Elite Taiwanese High School Baseball Pitchers From 2016 to 2017

• Published in: Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine Vol. 10; no. 5; p. 23259671221093960
• Main Authors: Lu, Yi, Chou, Wen-Yi, Wu, Kuan-Ting, Chen, Alvin Chao-Yu, Chan, Yi-Sheng, Chiu, Chih-Hao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.05.2022; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Elbow; High school baseball; Orthopedics; Sports injuries; Sports medicine; elbow; pitching; baseball; shoulder
• ISSN: 2325-9671; 2325-9671
• DOI: 10.1177/23259671221093960

Background: Numerous studies have discussed the risk factors for shoulder and elbow injuries in high school baseball players worldwide. Purpose: To determine the risk factors for pitching-related shoulder and elbow injuries in Taiwanese high school pitchers. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Included in the study were 144 pitchers from 11 top-ranked Taiwanese high school baseball teams between 2016 and 2017 high school baseball season. The participants answered a 55-item questionnaire concerning physical characteristics, pitching activities, injury history, and off-season activities. Univariate analyses were conducted separately for participants with and those without a pitching-related injury in the 12-month study period. The chi-square test or Fisher exact test was applied to categorical variables, and the F test or t test was applied to continuous variables. A stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to pitching-related injuries, and those results were calculated as odds ratios (ORs). Results: Having a pitching-related injury was significantly related to the number of pitches per week in the past 12 months (OR, 1.01; P = .006), pain over the shoulder and/or elbow in the past 12 months (OR, 3.56; P = .008), pitching competitive baseball for more than 8 of the past 12 months (OR, 2.53; P = .036), throwing sliders (OR, 2.97; P = .026), and lack of participating in other over-the-shoulder activities (0.03-0.11 fewer odds; P ≤ .010). Conclusion: For elite high school pitchers in Taiwan, pitching-related shoulder and elbow injuries were related to the number of pitches per week, pitching competitive baseball for more than 8 of the past 12 months, pain over the shoulder and/or elbow in the past 12 months, throwing sliders, and a lack of participation in other sports with over-the-shoulder activities.