Mueller F O, Marshall S W, Kirby D P
Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-8700, USA.
Phys Sportsmed. 2001 Jul;29(7):41-8. doi: 10.3810/psm.2001.07.874.
Baseball is a very popular team sport in the United States, but there has been concern with the number of injuries and fatalities.
This study describes the incidence of injuries to Little League Baseball, Inc, players from 5 to 12 years old from 1987 through 1996.
Descriptive statistical analyses of injuries derived from Little League Baseball, Inc, insurance data from 17,221,210 player-years of follow-up in the 10-year study period. An average of 1,722,121 children participated every year.
During the study, there were 29,038 injuries and an injury rate of 1.69 injuries per 1,000 participants per season. Ball-related injuries totaled 15,266, and batters had the greatest number of ball injuries. There were 12,306 facial and teeth injuries, mostly in defensive players. Sliding was associated with 60% of the injuries to base runners. Approximately 25% of the injuries were considered severe (fractures, dislocations, and concussions), and 13 players died.
Based on the data, youth baseball appears to be a very safe sport, but there are areas where injury prevention is possible. Data and additional attention are needed concerning face mask use for players in the field, modified balls for minimizing contact injuries, education on sliding technique, and use of safety bases for runners.
棒球在美国是一项非常受欢迎的团体运动，但人们一直担心其伤病和死亡人数。
本研究描述了1987年至1996年期间美国少年棒球联盟5至12岁球员的受伤发生率。
对美国少年棒球联盟保险数据中的伤病进行描述性统计分析，该数据来自10年研究期内17221210个球员赛季的随访。每年平均有1722121名儿童参与。
在研究期间，共发生29038起伤病，每1000名参与者每赛季的伤病率为1.69起。与球相关的伤病共计15266起，击球手的球伤数量最多。有12306起面部和牙齿伤病，大多发生在防守球员身上。滑垒与60%的跑垒员伤病有关。约25%的伤病被认为是严重的（骨折、脱位和脑震荡），有13名球员死亡。
根据这些数据，青少年棒球似乎是一项非常安全的运动，但仍有一些方面可以预防伤病。需要更多数据以及对以下方面给予更多关注：给场上球员使用面罩、改进球以减少接触性伤病、进行滑垒技术教育以及给跑垒员使用安全垒。
