Pitcher’s velocity, other kinematic factors correlate with rate of injury

LAS VEGAS — A pitcher’s height, pitch velocity and participation as a pitcher for multiple teams were factors associated with an increased likelihood of shoulder and elbow injury history, according to study data presented during the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting.

Researchers collected demographic and kinematic data for 420 adolescent pitchers during pre-season training utilizing dual-orthogonal high-speed video analysis. With multivariate logistic regression, the researchers analyzed and identified variables associated with shoulder and elbow injuries in the players.

Thirty-one percent of the players had a history of shoulder or elbow injury. Results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the only factors found to be independently correlated with injury status were pitcher height, velocity of pitch and playing for multiple teams. Using a model constructed with these variables allowed for the accurate prediction of 77% of injuries, according to the researchers.

There was a 20% increase in history of injuries with a 10-inch increase in height, and a 12% increase in history of injuries with a 10-mile-per-hour increase in velocity. Additionally, history of injury increased by 22% when players pitched for multiple teams, according to the researchers. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo

Reference:

Chalmers PN, et al. Paper #078. Presented at: American Academy of Orthopaedic Annual Meeting. March 24-28, 2015; Las Vegas.

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.