Injury Trends as a Injury Trends as a Function of Player Function of Player

PositionPosition

Erin SchneiderErin SchneiderNew Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State UniversityAthletic Training EducationAthletic Training Education

Honors ThesisHonors Thesis

IntroductionIntroduction

Player Positions vs PitchersPlayer Positions vs Pitchers ““few to no reports on injury few to no reports on injury

demographics in baseball players other demographics in baseball players other than pitchers at any level of play” exist than pitchers at any level of play” exist (Axe, Windley, and Snyder-Mackler, (Axe, Windley, and Snyder-Mackler, 2001, p. 268) 2001, p. 268)

Throwing TechniqueThrowing Technique Infielders vs. Infielders vs.

OutfieldersOutfielders Infielders used: Infielders used:

Sidearm, Overhead, Sidearm, Overhead, and Underhandand Underhand

Outfielders used: Outfielders used: OverheadOverhead

Sidearm vs. Sidearm vs. OverheadOverhead Planted position vs. Planted position vs.

non-planted positionnon-planted position Different velocities Different velocities

requiredrequired

Biomechanics- The Biomechanics- The BasicsBasics

OverheadOverhead Phases: Arm Cocking, Phases: Arm Cocking,

Acceleration, DecelerationAcceleration, Deceleration Valgus (Lateral) Torque Valgus (Lateral) Torque

created during arm cockingcreated during arm cocking

SidearmSidearm Phases: same as overheadPhases: same as overhead HOWEVER, shoulder has HOWEVER, shoulder has

greater horizontal greater horizontal abduction at “top position”abduction at “top position”

Valgus force increasedValgus force increased

HypothesisHypothesis

A higher trend towards elbow A higher trend towards elbow injuries will be found for infieldersinjuries will be found for infielders

Infielders will display a higher injury Infielders will display a higher injury trend overalltrend overall

Outfielders will show a greater a Outfielders will show a greater a shoulder injury trend due to the shoulder injury trend due to the repetitive overhead throwing motionrepetitive overhead throwing motion

MethodsMethods

Participants: 24 participating Participants: 24 participating Baseball athletic trainers (ATCs) out Baseball athletic trainers (ATCs) out of 295 invitedof 295 invited

Instrumentation: SurveyInstrumentation: Survey Procedures: ATCs were contacted Procedures: ATCs were contacted

via email; answers to the surveys via email; answers to the surveys were to exclude pitcherswere to exclude pitchers

Data AnalysisData Analysis

ResultsResultsNumber of Individual Injuries Sustained by

Infielders and OutfieldersInjuryInjury OutfielderOutfielder InfielderInfielder

Shoulder Total:Shoulder Total: 3737 3939

TendonitisTendonitis 2121 2121

Rotator Cuff StrainRotator Cuff Strain 99 88

Rotator Cuff TearRotator Cuff Tear 33 22

BursitisBursitis 22 22

AC Joint DysfunctionAC Joint Dysfunction 22 44

SC Joint DysfunctionSC Joint Dysfunction 00 22

Results (cont.)Results (cont.)

InjuryInjury OutfieldersOutfielders InfieldersInfielders

Elbow Total:Elbow Total: 77 2626

TendonitisTendonitis 44 1212

Pitchers/Tennis Pitchers/Tennis ElbowElbow

11 44

Little League Little League ElbowElbow

22 66

NeuropathiesNeuropathies 00 00

Number of Individual Injuries sustained by Infielders and Outfielders

Elbow Injuries Sustained by Outfielders and Infielders

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Total Tendonitis Pitchers/tennisElbow

Little LeagueElbow

Neuropathies

Type of Injuries

Nu

mb

er o

f In

juri

es

Outfielder

Infielder

Results- Surgical Results- Surgical ProceduresProcedures

Surgical Surgical ProcedureProcedure

OutfieldersOutfielders InfieldersInfielders

Labrum RepairLabrum Repair 88 77

Rotator Cuff RepairRotator Cuff Repair 22 11

UCL RepairUCL Repair 00 22

Loose Body RemovalLoose Body Removal 11 11

Bone Spur RemovalBone Spur Removal 11 00

BursitisBursitis 00 22

Bone FX RepairBone FX Repair 00 11

DislocationDislocation 00 11

TotalTotal 1212 1515

DiscussionDiscussion

No real trend for shoulder injuriesNo real trend for shoulder injuries Injury frequencies support Injury frequencies support

hypothesis that infielders will show hypothesis that infielders will show a higher trend towards elbow a higher trend towards elbow injuries injuries

Certain schools seemed to sustain Certain schools seemed to sustain more injuries than othersmore injuries than others

LimitationsLimitations

8% return on surveys8% return on surveys Problems with clarity in the Problems with clarity in the

questionsquestions Discrepancies with numbersDiscrepancies with numbers

For the Future…For the Future…

Need more evidence for results to be Need more evidence for results to be determined conclusivedetermined conclusive

Questions???