Are UCL Injuries a Matter of Bad Luck?

The Role of Variability and Fatigue Quantified

Journal article (2020)

Authors

B. van Trigt Biomechanical Engineering
A.J.R. Leenen Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
M. J.M. Hoozemans Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
F.C.T. van der Helm Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
H.E.J. Veeger Biomechanical Engineering , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Department
Biomechanical Engineering
Copyright: © 2020 B. van Trigt, A.J.R. Leenen, Marco J.M. Hoozemans, F.C.T. van der Helm, H.E.J. Veeger
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2020049107
More Info
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Published Date

2020

Language

English

Department

Biomechanical Engineering

Abstract

Upper extremity injuries are common in baseball. One of these is the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury. In the field of sports injuries, most research focuses on average kinematics and kinetics between subjects, whereas focusing on within-subject variability appears to be more relevant for determining injury risk. We constructed a simple explanatory simulation model to illustrate the relationship between within-subject load variability and risk, illustrating how pitchers with a higher load variability are more likely to sustain an injury compared to pitchers with less load variability. Furthermore, the model comprises the (theoretical) effect of fatigue on load variability and injury threshold over time.