Elite Baseball Players Research Articles

엘리트 야구 선수의 타격 특성 연구

The purpose of this study was to investigate the batting characteristics in elite baseball players. Seven skilled collegiate players hit the ball which was thrown by a pitching machine linearly and strongly to the center of the field. Time, velocity, angle and pound reaction force variables were measured by using high-speed video cameras and pound reaction force analyzer. The results were as follows: 1. The elite players finished their stride performance in a short time and they stayed longer in a swing phase. The increases in the range of trunk rotation were associated with the delay of the swing phase. 2. The 'take-back' phenomenon in the trunk was showed after the stride phase. 3. The down swing demonstrated powerful line drives. 4. Equivalent body weights were placed on both feet during the ready phase. 95% of the body weights were moved to the rear foot during the stride phase, whereas the body weights were driven to the front foot during the swing phase. 95% of the body weights were placed on the front foot at impact.

Shoulder Injury in Taiwan Elite Baseball Players: Role of Ultrasonographic Examination

Shoulder Injury in Taiwan Elite Baseball Players: Role of Ultrasonographic Examination

Effort thrombosis in the elite throwing athlete.

Upper extremity vascular injuries are uncommon in the elite throwing athlete. However, the extreme stresses that are placed on the upper extremity of elite baseball players, especially pitchers, puts them at risk for such injuries. One such injury is upper extremity venous thrombosis or "effort thrombosis." We wanted to review the common initial clinical symptoms and physical examination findings of effort thrombosis in elite baseball players and to review the associated clinical conditions such as hypercoagulable states and pulmonary embolism. Retrospective review of a series of cases. A retrospective review of the medical records of a Major League Baseball organization and a Division I college was performed for the period 1987 to 1997. We located four cases of effort thrombosis involving elite baseball players. Contrast venography was used to confirm the diagnosis in all cases. All patients were successfully treated with transluminal catheter-directed urokinase thrombolysis followed by first rib resection and systemic anticoagulant therapy for up to 3 months. All four players returned to play at or above their previous level of competition with no long-term chronic sequelae. Prompt clinical recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of effort thrombosis in the elite baseball player provides the player with an excellent prognosis for return to the previous level of play.

Left ventricular filling profiles and angiotensin system activity in elite baseball players

Left ventricular (LV) filling profiles in elite baseball players has not been reported in the literature. Also, angiotensin system activity in athletes has never been reported. We used echocardiography to compare 20 male elite baseball players (aged 21.9±1.0 years) with those of age- and sex-matched healthy sedentary subjects. Compared with the normal group, the athlete group showed a significant increase in LV mass, LV diastolic and systolic dimension, and left atrial dimension ( P<0.05, <0.001, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively). No differences in relative wall thickness or fractional shortening were found between these two groups. Diastolic filling profiles, including peak early diastolic filling velocity ( E), peak late diastolic filling velocity ( A), E: A ratio, early time–velocity integral ( E i), atrial time–velocity integral ( A i), E i: A i ratio, early filling time, deceleration time of early filling, and isovolumic relaxation time, were similar in both groups. Angiotensin system activity, including plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, and 24-h urinary aldosterone excretion, showed no difference between these two groups. Conclusion: This study suggests that normal LV filling profile, which is mediated partly by normal angiotensin system activity, is not related to increase in LV dimension and mass in elite baseball players.

Posterior ossification of the shoulder: the Bennett lesion. Etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

We report a series of ossific lesions of the posterior inferior glenoid in a group of elite baseball players. We hope to clarify the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the Bennett lesion. From August 1985 to August 1991, we identified six professional baseball pitchers and one college pitcher with evidence of ossification of the shoulder on plain radiographs, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. Arthroscopic examination was performed in all cases. All seven players had identifiable posterior labral injury on arthroscopic examination; six of these seven also had varying degrees of undersurface posterior rotator cuff damage. No anterior tissue damage, anterior instability, or subacromial impingement was noted. No ossification was identified arthroscopically. Intraarticular labral and rotator cuff tears were debrided arthroscopically and patients underwent rehabilitation for 4 to 6 months after surgery. Six of the seven athletes returned to preinjury performance levels; however, one pitcher is no longer playing competitive baseball. The Bennett lesion is an extraarticular posterior ossification associated with posterior labral injury and posterior undersurface rotator cuff damage. It is not, however, a result of traction stresses in the region of the triceps insertion. Recognition is important for identification and treatment of the lesion and associated pathologic damage.