Association of Head-Neck Rotation With History of Pitching-Related Elbow Pain in Youth Baseball Players.

Background: Prevention of pitching-related elbow pain in youth baseball players is important. Overhead pitching involves a whole-body motion, including head-neck rotation. A limited range of motion of head-neck rotation may cause inefficient pitching motion; however, this association is unclear. Purpose: To determine whether the range of motion of head-neck rotation is associated with the history of pitching-related elbow pain in youth baseball players. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 311 youth baseball players were selected and asked to complete a questionnaire survey about their age, weight, height, sex, baseball experience, main position, pitching side, and previous/current elbow pain during pitching. The range of motion of the upper and lower limb joints, head-neck rotation, and thoracic kyphosis angle were measured. Binomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the history of elbow pain related to pitching. Results: There were 101 players with a history of pitching-related elbow pain (history group) and 142 players with no pitching-related elbow pain (no-history group). The history group had significantly lower values than the no-history group regarding the range of motion of head-neck rotation on the nondominant side (74.9°± 9° vs 77.7°± 9.6°; P = .02) and overall head-neck rotation (150.6°± 14.7° vs 154.9°± 18.4°; P = .04). Binomial logistic regression analysis identified head-neck rotation on the nondominant side (odds ratio [OR], 0.97 [95% CI, 0.94-1.00]), shoulder horizontal adduction on the dominant side (OR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.96-1.00]), height (OR, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.00-1.08]), and playing position (pitcher) (OR, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.21-0.76]) as factors associated with a history of pitching-related elbow pain. Conclusion: Our cross-sectional analysis demonstrated that youth baseball players with a history of pitching-related elbow pain had limited head-neck rotation range of motion on the nondominant side, and this was a significant factor associated with the history of pitching-related elbow pain.

Lifestyle Changes and Baseball Activity among Youth Baseball Players before and during the First COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan.

This cross-sectional study aimed to clarify the changes in lifestyle and baseball activity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among youth baseball players. Participants were 99 youth baseball players (ages 9.6 ± 1.5 years, height 137.8 ± 9.4 cm, weight 35.3 ± 12.4 kg) in Japan. They completed an online survey between April 6 and 20, 2021, on their demographic characteristics, lifestyle (recreational screen, sleep, and study times), and baseball activity (frequency of team practice time and voluntary exercise-related baseball) at two-time points: before the pandemic (before March 2020) and during the state of emergency declared in Japan (from April to May 2020). The changes in outcomes between the two-time points were evaluated for significance. Recreational screen time and sleeping time during the state of emergency were significantly increased compared to those before the pandemic (p < 0.001). The frequency of team practice time on weekends during the state of emergency was significantly reduced, and voluntary exercise-related baseball was significantly increased compared to that before the pandemic (p < 0.01). We found that the COVID-19 pandemic changed behaviors concerning activities and exercise among youth baseball players and recommended that such behavioral changes be carefully monitored.

Pathogenic Factors Associated With Osgood-Schlatter Disease in Adolescent Male Soccer Players: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: A previous cross-sectional study reported that pathogenic factors associated with Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) in adolescent athletes include increased quadriceps muscle tightness, lower leg malalignment, and development of apophysitis in the tibial tuberosity. PURPOSE: To confirm these pathogenic factors associated with OSD in a longitudinal study with regard to physical function and performance. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: In this study, 37 boys (mean age, 10.2 ± 0.4 years) were recruited from 2 soccer teams at an elementary school. This cohort study was conducted over an observation period of 1 year, with measurements recorded at baseline, followed by screening for OSD every 6 months. Variables evaluated at baseline included physical function (morphometry, joint flexibility, and lower extremity alignment), presence of Sever disease, and kicking motion. RESULTS: Pathogenic factors associated with OSD in the support leg of adolescent male soccer players included height, weight, body mass index, quadriceps femoris muscle tightness in the kicking and support legs, and gastrocnemius muscle tightness, soleus muscle tightness, and medial longitudinal arch in the support leg. Additional factors included a diagnosis of Sever disease and distance from the lateral malleolus of the support leg's fibula to the center of gravity during kicking. CONCLUSION: The onset of OSD was found to be affected by many factors, including developmental stage, physical attributes, and pre-existing apophysitis. In particular, a diagnosis of Sever disease and backward shifting of the center of gravity during kicking increased the risk of the subsequent onset of OSD, suggesting that these factors are very important as a possible focus for interventions.