softball

The incidence of upper extremity (UE) injuries in sport, particularly with the shoulder and elbow in baseball/softball players, appears to be increasing yearly, especially in younger age athletes. Improving the objective criteria and testing methods used to determine return to play (RTP) readiness following non-operative or post-operative management of UE injuries is one aspect of the rehabilitation process that may significantly help in reducing reinjury rates. Currently, the majority of clinicians are still using post operative time frame and/or strength/range of motion as their main criteria for clearance to RTP following UE injury...

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) has life-changing impacts on young athletes. As the level of competition increases between the high school (HS) and collegiate (CO) stage of athletics, the impact of TOS may differ. Our objective is to compare surgical outcomes of TOS in HS and CO athletes. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of HS and CO athletes within a prospective surgical TOS database. The primary outcome was postoperative return to sport. Secondary outcomes were resolution of symptoms assessed with somatic pain scale (SPS), QuickDASH, and Derkash scores...

BACKGROUND: Baseball and softball are popular sports with similar rates of injury, especially among pitchers. However, parity between the two sports is lacking, as baseball receives greater research attention than softball. The purpose of this study was to describe the discrepancy between baseball and softball in terms of quantity and quality of research. We hypothesized baseball literature would outnumber softball literature, be published in higher-impact journals, and be of higher quality...

The interspinous region is an atypical source of low back pain (LBP), and it can often be difficult to identify. There are many structural components in the interspinous region that can contribute to interspinous pain, including the interspinous ligament (ISL) which plays a role in providing stabilization to the spine. Successful treatments of interspinous pain have not been well characterized in the literature. This case presents the first documentation of the use of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) as a non-invasive treatment for refractory interspinous-related LBP...

During throwing, the lower extremity assists in the generation and transfer of momentum. Lower extremity stability assists in this transfer by providing a base for distal mobility of the arm segments. This study aimed to determine differences between hip rotational range of motion and strength based on the presence of throwing-arm pain (yes/no) and throwing sport (baseball/softball). We hypothesized those experiencing pain would display decreases in hip range of motion and strength, and that softball players would display greater range of motion than baseball, but less strength based on sex-specific characteristics...

Palmer, TG, and McCabe, M. The effect of a novel weight-supported kinetic chain resistance training program on proximal core muscular endurance, trunk-to-arm muscular power, and bat swing speed. J Strength Cond Res 37(11): 2130-2140, 2023-Muscular stability and muscular power at the proximal core segments of the pelvis, spine, and trunk are essential attributes in maximizing bat swing speed in the sport of softball. Weight-supported kinetic chain resistance training (WsKC) is a novel closed kinetic chain technique that provides synergistic multiplanar stressors to the proximal core segments via the lower and upper extremities while limiting joint compression and sheer forces throughout the kinetic chain...

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2021/7671596.].

Although pitching-related injuries in the overhead athlete have been studied extensively, injuries associated with windmill pitching are not as clearly elucidated. Windmill pitching produces high forces and torques in the upper extremity, and studies have shown it creates similar shoulder and elbow joint loads to those reported in baseball pitchers. Studies have shown that the windmill pitching motion generates high levels of biceps activation with an eccentric load, placing the biceps at increased risk for overuse injuries...

Hip and shoulder range of motion (ROM) alterations are correlated with increased risk of injury in softball athletes. The purpose of this study was to investigate bilateral shoulder and hip ROM adaptation during a simulated softball double-header exposure. It was hypothesized that shoulder and hip ROM would decrease after simulated game exposure and would not return to baseline following a 30-minute break. Thirty (14.8±1.9 yrs, 162.5±18.3 cm, 71.79±16.03 kg) adolescent softball pitchers participated...

A 20-year-old female, right-hand-dominant Division I softball player, presented to her pre-participation exam endorsing numbness that started in her left thumb and had progressed to involve her entire hand and left medial elbow. She had no change in her physical health over the past year prior to presentation and denied injury illness or trauma to the left upper extremity or neck. She reported no change in her softball off-season training regimen or equipment. Exam exhibited decreased sensation in C6, C7, and C8 dermatomes and weakness in the C8 myotome...

BACKGROUND: A decrease in sport-related injuries was observed in 2020, which has been attributed to COVID-19 and recommendations to suspend organized sports. In adult populations, increased injury rates have been noted in athletes returning to play after an extended period of reduced play, attributable to deconditioning. There is growing literature surrounding concern over increased injury risk after return to sport after the COVID-19 shutdowns. HYPOTHESIS: Like adults, pediatric patients experience an increase in sport-related injuries after periods of "deconditioning," such as during the COVID-19 shutdown...

BACKGROUND: Overhead throwing in baseball and softball athletes induces shoulder adaptations theorized to increase risk of shoulder musculoskeletal injury (MSI) and/or pain due to range of motion (ROM) deficits. HYPOTHESIS: Shoulder ROM adaptations are associated with a higher risk for developing shoulder MSI and pain. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. METHODS: A total of 60 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletes cleared for full athletic participation and free from upper extremity MSI in the last 4 weeks (age, 19...

BACKGROUND: Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries occur frequently in baseball players, and UCL reconstruction is performed when nonoperative treatment fails. PURPOSE: To compare a novel all-suture anchor method of UCL reconstruction with a method using bone tunnels (Ito method) by investigating the displacement against valgus torque and the failure strength. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric upper extremities (mean age, 82...

BACKGROUND: Concussions or musculoskeletal injuries may impair postural control, which is one diagnostic to help determine return-to-activity decisions. Postural control may be affected by diurnal rhythm. RESEARCH QUESTION: Does time of day influence postural control as measured by two Neurocom Balance Master diagnostic protocols, the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) and the Stability Evaluation Test (SET)? METHODS: Following Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, consented participants completed the SET and mCTSIB twice: between 0700 and 1000; and between 1600 and 1900...

PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology of ACL tears in NCAA men's and women's sports. METHODS: Injury and exposure data collected within the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program from 2014/15-2018/19 were analyzed. ACL tear frequencies, rates (IRs) and proportions were used to describe injury incidence by sport, event type, injury mechanism, and injury history. Injury rate ratios (IRRs) were utilized to examine differential injury rates, and injury proportion ratios (IPRs) were used to examine differential distributions...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The popularity of softball is rising among female athletes with more than two million players between the ages of 12 and 18 competing per year. As participation rates increase, the frequency of injuries related to softball is on the rise. Softball injuries can differ from baseball injuries, and only a small amount of current literature focuses exclusively on softball injuries. Orthopaedic surgeons need to be prepared to evaluate, diagnose, and treat common injuries sustained while playing softball. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of injury that are commonly encountered by female athletes in competitive fast-pitch softball and review current safety initiatives that have been implemented to aide in injury prevention...

BACKGROUND: Approximately 50 percent of softball injuries are the result of overuse or chronic conditions. However, research exploring preventative measures for softball players is limited and usage of injury prevention strategies among softball coaches is unknown. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: This survey aimed to investigate if softball coaches are implementing injury prevention programs to reduce injury and improve the performance of their players. The secondary purpose was to identify barriers to the implementation of injury prevention programs...

BACKGROUND: Guidelines regarding injury prevention in fast-pitch softball pitchers have yet to be widely adopted, risking the online dissemination of misleading advice. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to assess the source and medical advisability of online pitching recommendations for youth softball players and highlight the risk of misinformation. It was hypothesized that many popular websites would contain content discordant with current medical guidelines regarding windmill softball pitching recommendations...

INTRODUCTION: A Morel-Lavallée lesion (MLL) is a closed degloving injury secondary to shearing forces. MLL is a rare, easily overlooked diagnosis, especially in those without recent trauma or fracture. Patients will present with ecchymosis, edema, fluctuance, and skin hypermobility or tightness. We present a case of pediatric MLL that was initially challenging to diagnose as the inciting trauma was 2 months before her diagnosis. CASE REPORT: A 14-year-old girl presented with 5 days of left leg bruising, swelling, and pain...