Abdominal Muscle Strain Injury in Professional Baseball Players 1991-2010

Abdominal muscle strains can result in substantial loss of playing time for athletes. The occurrence and frequency of abdominal muscle strains has never been reported in baseball literature but the incidence of these types of injuries in Major League Baseball (MLB) players has been rising over the past 20 years. Abdominal muscular strains are fairly common and require much time for recovery to regain active playing status. Because of these factors abdominal muscle strain is a major concern in this profession.

Strain injuries to baseball players typically occur on the side opposite of the dominant throwing arm or batting side. Tremendous force is generated in the opposite side abdominal muscles while throwing a baseball or swinging a bat because speed is crucial for generating optimal baseball and/or bat velocity.

Researchers Stan A. Conte, Matthew M. Thompson, Matthew A. Marks, and Joshua S. Dines used retrospective review of the Major League Baseball disabled list from 1991 to 2010 and determined that abdominal core muscles (internal and external oblique, rectus and transversus abdominis muscles) play an important role in the baseball activities of pitching and hitting.

Player age, position they play on the baseball field, dominant throwing hand and batting side as well as the recovery time from abdominal muscle strains was recorded in the MLB disabled list during the 1991 to 2010 time period. The researchers found there were a total of 393 abdominal muscle strains in Major League Baseball from 1991 to 2010 which comprised approximately 5% of all baseball related injuries that placed players on the disabled list. At least 92% of these injuries were internal/external oblique or intercostal muscle strains with 44% of injuries being sustained by pitchers. These players reinjured these muscles at a rate of 12.1%.

An upward trend in abdominal muscle strains was seen from 1991 to 2010 with many such injuries occurring in the early baseball season with an overall injury rate that was 22% higher in the 2000s than in the 1990s.

With abdominal muscle strains, pitchers averaged 35.4 days on the disabled list compared with 26.7 days for position players. 78.1% of pitcher injuries were contralateral (on the side opposite) to their dominant arm and 70.3% of position player injuries were contralateral to their dominant batting side. These figures excluded switch hitters. 

As can be seen from these statistics, injuries involving abdominal muscle strains most commonly occur contralateral to the dominant arm or batting side. However, the recovery time differed between pitchers and position players depending upon the side of injury. Position players missed more time for contralateral than for ipsilateral (same side) injuries (28.9 vs 21.2 days of disability) whereas pitchers missed more time for ipsilateral injuries (44.5 vs 32.8 days of disability).

 
The conclusion was that the incidence of abdominal muscle strains in baseball has been increasing over the past 20 years, especially early in the season, and there is a relatively high rate of injury recurrence. This upward trend is occurring in spite of new and more advanced diagnostic procedures, preventive core strengthening exercise programs, and rehabilitation techniques.

 

Seek Medical Help Immediately after a Car Accident

Automobile collisions or "fender-benders" happen at any time of year so it is good to know what medical procedure you should take if you are involved in one.  If a car accident occurs it is very important to seek medical care immediately after the collision.

A Minor Car Accident can Cause Major Injury

It is a good idea to visit a Doctor of Chiropractic immediately following an automobile collision for a thorough examination. The doctors at Perry Hall Chiropractic and Physical Therapy will examine an auto collision victim to determine the effects the impact of the collision has caused to their body.  Early intervention can help avoid permanent effects caused by acute, traumatic injuries such as those resulting from an automobile collision.

You Do Not Need a Referral to See a Doctor of Chiropractor after a Car Accident 

One great thing about visiting a Doctor of Chiropractic is you do not need a referral.  If you, a family member, or someone you know has been in an auto accident call to make an appointment immediately so your recovery can be started as soon as possible. Early intervention minimizes or prevents permanent residuals from these types of traumatic injury.  

It is better to be safe than sorry to avoid suffering for the rest of your life with afflictions that could have been prevented by seeking help immediately after an auto collision.  At Perry Hall Chiropractic and Physical Therapy we are committed to helping our patients achieve a quick and satisfactory recovery. 

Patients with Low Back Pain Benefit Greatly from Chiropractic Care

A recent pilot study by noted Harvard Researcher David Eisenberg and others has shown that patients with lower back pain who had chiropractic and massage therapy added to their treatment plan benefited more than patients who only had conventional medical treatment.  The patients also had acupuncture, physical therapy and other treatments as needed.  The article is available FREE (for now) at the following link:  http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/acm.2011.0408

Chiropractic Care Greatly Reduced the Lower Back Pain of Patients who Participated in the Study

Patients in the wing of the study receiving chiropractic care had significantly less pain, significantly less worry, less pain and higher functional status. The study included people who did and who did not have sciatica (lower back pain with leg pain or leg symptoms associated with back pain).  

This article adds to a growing body of research showing the benefit of chiropractic and other alternative healthcare approaches above and beyond that afforded by conventional medicine.  At Perry Hall Chiropractic and Physical Therapy we use chiropractic with physical therapy for musculoskeletal complaints.  Perry Hall Chiropractic and Physical Therapy also utilizes advanced techniques including low level laser therapy which is a technique recently approved by the FDA for treating musculoskeletal problems. 

Postponing Treatment for Lower Back Pain Leads to an Increased Incidence in Chronic Lower Back Pain and Incomplete Recovery

A 2011 study by Lena Nordeman at the Swedish University of Gothenburg found that patients who waited four weeks to get physiotherapy treatment for their lower back pain had poorer outcomes compared to patients who were seen within 48 hours.  The study looked at 60 patients with lower back pain and patients with lower back and leg pain.  The patients in this study had pain in the low back area for three to twelve weeks. 

In the study, patients suffering from back pain were either put on a wait list for a month, then received physiotherapy; or were treated within two days by a physiotherapist.  Six months after they were discharged from physiotherapy, the level of perceived pain was significantly higher in the group that had been on the wait list.  The complete study can be found here: http://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/24585/1/gupea_2077_24585_1.pdf. This study correlates well with our experience at Perry Hall Chiropractic and Physical Therapy for almost all musculoskeletal complaints, not just back pain. 

Perry Hall Chiropractic and Physical Thereapy has successfully treated patients who have had pain for decades, providing significant relief for their pains

When patients come in to our Perry Hall office within days of the onset of pain rather than waiting weeks hoping that “maybe it will go away” their treatment takes less time offering better results in less time.  

Seeking professional help weeks after the onset of pain is generally better than months, and months are better than years, and years are better than decades… but seeking help immediately is best.  However, our Perry Hall office has successfully treated patients who have had pain for decades, providing significant relief.

Sometimes patients are told by their primary care provider, physical therapist or Doctor of Chiropractic to wait and see if the pain will go away with time.  If you've been waiting on pain to go away it is time to give us a call. We will be happy to answer any questions you have. If we can help we'd be happy to see you. If we think your time would be better spent seeing a different kind of professional, we'll tell you that also.

Vitamin D and Men’s Health

For Dad: Vitamin D and Men’s Health

The idea of giving your father vitamin D as a Father’s Day present may sound a bit cheesy but may be the best gift you can give him. After all, the gift of health is a present we can cherish.

Vitamin D Increases Testosterone Levels

Vitamin D plays an important role in men’s health. Did you know that vitamin D boosts testosterone levels? In a randomized controlled study it was found that 3,300 IU per day of Vitamin D increased testosterone levels by 30-40%. In men, testosterone is important for reproduction tissues, the testes, prostate, and a key element for masculine features such as increased muscle and bone mass as well as the growth of body hair.

4,000 IU of Vitamin D per day helps Men with Low-Risk Prostate Cancer

Vitamin D also helps decrease the chance of acquiring and suffering the effects of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer among men over the age of 75. Interestingly, prostate cancer has been one of the most studied topics in vitamin D research.

Research into the benefits of vitamin D for prostate cancer has progressed significantly. Just this past year a team of doctors discovered that 4,000 IU of Vitamin D per day helped men with low-risk prostate cancer by lowering their Gleason score and number of “positive cores.”

Higher Vitamin D Levels can lower Risks of Dying from Heart Disease

Men 35-64 years old are about four times more likely than women to die from heart disease. Observational studies suggest low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease. A recent study suggests higher vitamin D levels can lower the risk of dying from heart disease.

So don’t feel cheesy about giving your father a gift of Viatmin D. He will appreciate it.