Injury Trends as a Function of Player Position Erin Schneider New Mexico State University Athletic Training Education Honors Thesis

Introduction Player Positions vs Pitchers Player Positions vs Pitchers “few to no reports on injury demographics in baseball players other than pitchers at any level of play” exist (Axe, Windley, and Snyder-Mackler, 2001, p. 268) “few to no reports on injury demographics in baseball players other than pitchers at any level of play” exist (Axe, Windley, and Snyder-Mackler, 2001, p. 268)

Throwing Technique Infielders vs. Outfielders Infielders vs. Outfielders Infielders used: Sidearm, Overhead, and Underhand Infielders used: Sidearm, Overhead, and Underhand Outfielders used: Overhead Outfielders used: Overhead Sidearm vs. Overhead Sidearm vs. Overhead Planted position vs. non- planted position Planted position vs. non- planted position Different velocities required Different velocities required

Biomechanics- The Basics Overhead Overhead Phases: Arm Cocking, Acceleration, Deceleration Phases: Arm Cocking, Acceleration, Deceleration Valgus (Lateral) Torque created during arm cocking Valgus (Lateral) Torque created during arm cocking Sidearm Sidearm Phases: same as overhead Phases: same as overhead HOWEVER, shoulder has greater horizontal abduction at “top position” HOWEVER, shoulder has greater horizontal abduction at “top position” Valgus force increased Valgus force increased

Hypothesis A higher trend towards elbow injuries will be found for infielders A higher trend towards elbow injuries will be found for infielders Infielders will display a higher injury trend overall Infielders will display a higher injury trend overall Outfielders will show a greater a shoulder injury trend due to the repetitive overhead throwing motion Outfielders will show a greater a shoulder injury trend due to the repetitive overhead throwing motion

Methods Participants: 24 participating Baseball athletic trainers (ATCs) out of 295 invited Participants: 24 participating Baseball athletic trainers (ATCs) out of 295 invited Instrumentation: Survey Instrumentation: Survey Procedures: ATCs were contacted via ; answers to the surveys were to exclude pitchers Procedures: ATCs were contacted via ; answers to the surveys were to exclude pitchers Data Analysis Data Analysis

Results Number of Individual Injuries Sustained by Infielders and Outfielders InjuryOutfielderInfielder Shoulder Total: 3739 Tendonitis2121 Rotator Cuff Strain 98 Rotator Cuff Tear 32 Bursitis22 AC Joint Dysfunction 24 SC Joint Dysfunction 02

Results (cont.) InjuryOutfieldersInfielders Elbow Total: 726 Tendonitis412 Pitchers/Tennis Elbow 14 Little League Elbow 26 Neuropathies00 Number of Individual Injuries sustained by Infielders and Outfielders

Results- Surgical Procedures Surgical Procedure OutfieldersInfielders Labrum Repair 87 Rotator Cuff Repair 21 UCL Repair 02 Loose Body Removal 11 Bone Spur Removal 10 Bursitis02 Bone FX Repair 01 Dislocation01 Total1215

Discussion No real trend for shoulder injuries No real trend for shoulder injuries Injury frequencies support hypothesis that infielders will show a higher trend towards elbow injuries Injury frequencies support hypothesis that infielders will show a higher trend towards elbow injuries Certain schools seemed to sustain more injuries than others Certain schools seemed to sustain more injuries than others

Limitations 8% return on surveys 8% return on surveys Problems with clarity in the questions Problems with clarity in the questions Discrepancies with numbers Discrepancies with numbers

For the Future… Need more evidence for results to be determined conclusive Need more evidence for results to be determined conclusive

Questions???