This study is to evaluate the abnormalities in the kinetic chain in the players with little league elbow during the medical screening of middle school baseball teams. Ninety-three players were examined with elbow ultrasonography in the field. Using kinetic chain evaluation test, 27 players sonogrphically diagnosed of little league elbow in dominant arm were compared with 25 players who were normal as control. Scapular-spine distance, horizontal flexion test, combined abduction test, and glenohumeral internal rotation deficit were used for evaluating kinetic chain in the upper extremities, while tightness of quadriceps and hamstring muscles, internal rotation of stance leg, and external rotation of stride leg were used for lower extremities. Also, the single leg stance test and finger-floor distance were used for core stability and flexibility. Twenty-five of 27 players (93%) having little league elbow showed kinetic chain abnormalities of either upper or lower extremities or trunk. This rate was significantly higher for the players having the little leaguer's elbow than control (28%) (p=0.017). Each specific tests for evaluating kinetic chain were also more prevalent in little league elbow group than control, and the abnormalities in the upper extremity were more common than those in lower extremity (p=0.026). Combined abduction test (23/27) and limitation of internal rotation of stance leg (16/27) were the most prevalent abnormalities in upper and lower extremity test, respectively. Our findings showed that there are many abnormalities in kinetic chain in players having the little league elbow and it may be associated with pathogenesis of little league elbow.
Arm ; Athletic Injuries ; Baseball ; Elbow* ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Mass Screening ; Muscles ; Pliability ; Ultrasonography ; Upper Extremity

This study concerns norm-referenced criteria for isokinetic strength of the lower limbs for the Korean high school baseball players. Two hundred one high school baseball players were participated in this study. They didn't have any medical problem at the lower limbs. Each test was conducted four times in the ankle plantar flexion/dorsiflexion test at 30°/sec speed, knee flexion/ extension test was conducted four times at 60°/sec speed. Humac Norm (CSMI, USA) system was used to obtained the value of peak torque, peak torque % body weight. The results were presented as a norm-referenced criterion value using 5-point scale of cajori, by 5 group (6.06%, 24.17%, 38.30%, 24.17%, and 6.06%) and a few suggestions from this study as follows. The provided criterion of peak torque and peak torque % body weight are very useful information for baseball palyers, baseball coach, athletic trainers and sports injury rehabilitation experts, to utilize as an objective clinical assessment data.
Ankle ; Athletic Injuries ; Baseball* ; Body Weight ; Humans ; Knee ; Lower Extremity* ; Rehabilitation ; Sports ; Torque

The elbow and shoulder in young baseball players are prone to injuries. The internal factors of sports injuries are the fragility of the bones and joints of growing children and adolescents. The main external factors of injuries are the competition and eagerness of adolescent players and the motivation of hard-work. Baseball injuries have many causes, including fast rotation and movement of a load from the trunk to arm, repetitive incorrect placement of the arm in the throwing position, too-many throwing practices, etc. Orthopedic surgeons have generally focused on surgical procedure to cure, but it is time to consider and share the methods of injury prevention.
Adolescent* ; Arm ; Athletic Injuries ; Baseball* ; Child ; Elbow ; Humans ; Joints ; Motivation ; Orthopedics ; Shoulder ; Surgeons ; Upper Extremity*

BACKGROUND: Professional affiliation between medical centers and professional sports teams can be mutually beneficial in the provision of healthcare and marketing strategy. Anecdotal evidence suggests a link between trauma volume and sporting events; however, there is limited data. This study aims to characterize the incidence of operative hand and facial trauma during professional baseball home games. METHODS: A retrospective review of surgical cases for traumatic hand or facial injuries at a level 1 center between 1999 and 2012 was performed. Demographic information including date of injury, admission status, and operative repair were collected. Patients were grouped based on whether their trauma occurred on the date of a home game. RESULTS: Operative hand and facial trauma occurred at a rate of 33.4 injuries per 100 days with home games, compared to 22.2 injuries per 100 days (incidence rate ratios, 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.34–1.69). When home games were played, patients were more likely to present as a result of motorcycle accidents (3.1% vs. 1.5%; P=0.04) or bicycle accidents (5.0% vs. 2.6%; P=0.01). Other mechanisms of trauma were not statistically different. There was an increase incidence of injuries during home games in August; weekly variability showed an increased incidence during the weekends. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increased rate of operative hand and facial injuries on dates with professional home games. The incidence of injuries during home games was higher in the late summer and on the weekends. Further analysis may allow improved resource allocation and strategies for injury prevention and treatment.
Baseball ; Delivery of Health Care ; Facial Injuries ; Hand Injuries ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Marketing ; Motorcycles ; Resource Allocation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sports ; Trauma Centers

We Studied the sport injuries of 135 Korean dissbled athletes who were going to Seoul Paralympics from 15th September 1988 to 30th September 1988. The results were as follows.1. The mean age was 23.3years, male and female ratio was 7 to l. 2. The type of disability were as follows ; Poliomyelitis, Cerebral Palsy and Blindness and transition rate of below 5 years of age was 71.6%. 3. The most common age of begining exercise of the disabled athletes were 16-20 years and composed of 77.4%. 4. The most common cause and process of athletic injuries were heavy training and excessive exercise. 5. The most common athletic injury was soft tissue injury and the most common site was hand and the most common type of injury was blindness and the most common causative sport was baseball and fencing. 6. The protects were used in 41% of athletes and they were globes and glassed as follows. 7. Over 77% of the disabled athletes were answered as “Necessary” to the question about scientification of disabled sport.
Athletes ; Athletic Injuries ; Baseball ; Blindness ; Cerebral Palsy ; Female ; Glass ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Poliomyelitis ; Seoul ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Sports

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported the clinical outcomes of medial ulnar collateral ligament (MUCL) reconstruction of the elbow joint in throwing athletes, including the rate of return to sports. However, little has been known about the imaging outcomes after MUCL reconstruction. The aim of this study is to report the clinical and imaging outcomes after MUCL reconstruction using figure of eight fashion in the elite and professional baseball players. METHODS: This study included 17 baseball players, who underwent MUCL reconstruction between July 2007 and May 2010. The average follow-up period was 48.6 months. Imaging assessment consisted of preoperative plain and stress radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and postoperative serial ultrasonography. The clinical assessments were composed of visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, range of motion, and the Conway scale. RESULTS: The mean VAS score was 6.4 (range, 3 to 8) preoperatively and 2.2 (range, 0 to 4) postoperatively (p < 0.05). There were nine players (53%) classified as excellent who returned to sports at the same or higher level compared to preinjury. Serial ultrasonography revealed well-maintained grafts at 3 and 12 months in all of the players. Five out of 17 players showed decreased echogenecity in the common flexor tendon at 3 months, which was considered as remaining tissue swelling and resolved completely at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: All grafts are well-maintained until 12-months based on the ultrasonographic findings, although only 53% of the players returned to preinjury level.
Adolescent ; Athletic Injuries/*surgery/ultrasonography ; Baseball/*injuries ; Collateral Ligaments/injuries/*surgery/ultrasonography ; Elbow Joint/injuries/*surgery/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Male ; *Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Recovery of Function ; Transplants/ultrasonography ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONInjuries to the medial structures of the elbow due to overhead throwing games are well documented. However, variations of medial epicondyles are not well described, especially in athletes with fused medial epicondyles. In this study, we evaluated variations in the medial epicondyle of baseball players who were aged 15-17 years and had fused epicondyles.

METHODSIn this cross-sectional observational study, 155 skeletally mature baseball players with unilateral medial elbow pain and 310 elbow radiographs were reviewed by two independent reviewers. The medial epicondyles were categorised into three groups: normal, elongated or separated.

RESULTSAmong the 155 patients, 65 (41.9%) had normal epicondyles, 41 (26.5%) had elongated epicondyles and 49 (31.6%) had separated epicondyles. The medial epicondyle was larger on the dominant arm for 125 (80.6%) patients; the mean surface area on the dominant arm was 222.50 ± 45.77 mm, while that of the non-dominant arm was 189.14 ± 39.56 mm(p < 0.01). Among the three categories of medial epicondyles, separated epicondyles had the largest surface area, followed by elongated and normal epicondyles.

CONCLUSIONMedial epicondyles in adolescent throwing athletes can be categorised into three different groups according to their shape (normal, elongated and separated). We observed a correlation between the shape and the surface area of the medial epicondyle in adolescent throwing athletes, with separated medial epicondyles having the largest surface area. Further studies and follow-up are needed to determine the prognostic value and clinical significance of these morphological variations.

Adolescent ; Athletes ; Athletic Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Baseball ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Elbow ; injuries ; Elbow Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography