Status of shoulder and elbow disorders in collegiate baseball players ―Results of a medical checkup at the time of enrollment in college and subsequent symptoms ―

Abstract

The authors were aware of shoulder and elbow disorders that collegiate baseball players experienced at the time of enrollment, and researched the characteristics of the medical checkup results of athletes with shoulder and elbow symptoms while at school.

Thirty-seven collegiate hardball baseball players answered questionnaires and underwent ultrasound examination of the shoulders and elbows, and measurement of the ROM of the shoulder and hip joints. The relation with the medical checkup results were investigated in athletes with shoulder and elbow symptoms while at school.

Twenty-six athletes (70.3%) had a history of shoulder and elbow problems.

Abnormal lesions in the rotator cuff were found in thirty-three athletes (89.2%) by ultrasound. In the elbow joints, osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum was present in four athletes.

Ten athletes (27%) complained of shoulder or elbow pain while at school, including six pitchers and eight experienced pitchers. Although ROM of the shoulder external rotation (2nd position) was increased and shoulder internal rotation (2nd position) on the throwing side was decreased, there was not a statistically significant difference.

One athlete with osteochondritis dissecans, first detected by medical checkup, could be treated early when symptoms developed. We therefore consider that medical checkup at the time of enrollment is useful.