Epidemiologic Study of Pitching Injuries in Baseball

Principal investigators:
Dr. Frederick Mueller, and Dr. Stephen Marshall

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Study Findings

The overall goal of this project is to increase our understanding of injury factors related to the success and longevity of youth baseball pitchers. This study is important because it is the first comprehensive study of injury in youth pitching. Below are some findings from the study.

Year one of the 5-year project was focused on Little League Baseball. A total of 404 pitchers from approximately 50 Little League Baseball teams across the United States completed the questionnaires. Year 2 involved follow-up with the Little League pitchers and the initial survey of the High School Pitchers. Year 3 included follow-up for both the Little League and High School pitchers, and the initial survey of the College Pitchers. Year 4, currently under-way involves follow-up of all three groups of pitchers.

Major findings from the year one questionnaire are:

• During the past twelve months, 42% of Little League pitchers also pitched in other leagues
• Nearly one-quarter (23.7%) of Little League pitchers pitched in Travel Ball and Little League at the same time
• Almost all (99%) of Little League pitchers pitch a fast ball, 75% pitch a changeup, 33% pitch a curve ball, 19% pitch a knuckleball, and 9% pitch a slider
• Ninety-five percent did not pitch in a showcase in the past 12 months; 3.5% pitched in a Showcase during the Little League season
• Nearly 1 out of every 5 Little League pitchers report pitching with pain in the elbow (18.9%) or shoulder (18.6%) in past 12 months
• Nearly 2 out of every 5 (38.6%) have pitched when the arm/shoulder was tired in the last 12 months
• None of the Little League pitchers ever had surgery for a pitching-related injury to the arm or shoulder and only 6.2% missed a week and had to see a physician for injury
• Over 50% of the pitchers with pitching-related pain used ice packs as a treatment
• Over 20% used pain relievers as a treatment for pitching-related pain and 5% had taken pain relievers in order to be able to pitch

This study is endorsed by Little League Baseball, the USA Baseball Medical and Safety Advisory Committee, and has been approved by the Public Health Institutional Review Board at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.