Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in Elite Taiwanese High School Baseball Pitchers From 2016 to 2017

Numerous studies have discussed the risk factors for shoulder and elbow injuries in high school baseball players worldwide.

To determine the risk factors for pitching-related shoulder and elbow injuries in Taiwanese high school pitchers.

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Included in the study were 144 pitchers from 11 top-ranked Taiwanese high school baseball teams between 2016 and 2017 high school baseball season. The participants answered a 55-item questionnaire concerning physical characteristics, pitching activities, injury history, and off-season activities. Univariate analyses were conducted separately for participants with and those without a pitching-related injury in the 12-month study period. The chi-square test or Fisher exact test was applied to categorical variables, and the F test or t test was applied to continuous variables. A stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to pitching-related injuries, and those results were calculated as odds ratios (ORs).

Having a pitching-related injury was significantly related to the number of pitches per week in the past 12 months (OR, 1.01; P = .006), pain over the shoulder and/or elbow in the past 12 months (OR, 3.56; P = .008), pitching competitive baseball for more than 8 of the past 12 months (OR, 2.53; P = .036), throwing sliders (OR, 2.97; P = .026), and lack of participating in other over-the-shoulder activities (0.03-0.11 fewer odds; P ≤ .010).

For elite high school pitchers in Taiwan, pitching-related shoulder and elbow injuries were related to the number of pitches per week, pitching competitive baseball for more than 8 of the past 12 months, pain over the shoulder and/or elbow in the past 12 months, throwing sliders, and a lack of participation in other sports with over-the-shoulder activities.