Youth Baseball Caregiver Understanding of Safe Pitching Guidelines and Player Injury.
Christian Reintgen, Giorgio Zeppieri, Michelle Bruner and 4 others
PMID 34123532WHAT IT FOUND
Most caregivers of youth pitchers did not know safe pitching guidelines existed.
Caregivers who knew the rules monitored pitch counts better. Pitchers throwing breaking balls or pitching for more than six months a year were more likely to report arm pain.
Key findings
01Eighty-three percent of caregivers were unaware of the existence of safe pitching guidelines.
02Caregivers who were aware of the guidelines were more likely to estimate their child threw fewer than 85 pitches per game.
03Pitchers who threw breaking pitches or pitched for more than six months out of the year were more likely to experience arm pain after pitching.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The survey relied on caregiver recall for specific details like pitch counts and days between performances, which introduces recall bias. Participants were recruited primarily at athletic competitions, creating a convenience sample that may not represent all caregivers. The study was limited to North Central Florida, so results may not generalize to other geographic areas. Private pitching lessons were not included in the analysis, meaning total pitching volume may be underestimated. The study design cannot prove that lack of knowledge caused the injuries, only that they are associated.
Declared interests
No sources of support or conflicts of interest to disclose
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that knowing the guidelines prevents injury. The study shows an association between guideline awareness and lower reported pitch counts, but it does not prove that education alone reduces the incidence of arm pain.