A preliminary investigation into the long-term injury consequences reported by retired baseball players

• Published in: Journal of science and medicine in sport 2007-06, Vol.10 (3), p.187-190
• Main Authors: Meir, Rudi A, Weatherby, Robert P, Rolfe, Margaret I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis of Variance; Athletic Injuries - economics; Athletic Injuries - epidemiology; Athletic Injuries - etiology; Australia - epidemiology; Baseball; Baseball - injuries; Baseball - statistics & numerical data; Health Surveys; Humans; Injury Severity Score; Joint Diseases - economics; Joint Diseases - epidemiology; Joint Diseases - etiology; Major injury; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Retirement; Significant; Sports Medicine
• ISSN: 1440-2440; 1878-1861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2006.06.002

Summary Seventy-five retired baseball players participated in a survey (37.8% response rate) in order to establish the long-term consequences of injuries sustained during their playing careers. Respondents had a mean age of 55.8 (±11.4) years with a mean age of 41.3 (±11.4) years at retirement from play. The mean overall rate of injury suffered per player/playing career was 5.6 (±7.1). 54.7% of respondents experienced a major injury (i.e. injury resulting in 5 or more consecutive weeks absence from training and play) with a mean major injury per player/playing career of 1.5 (±2.2). The rate for significant injuries (i.e. injury resulting in more than 1 week but less than 5 weeks absence from training and play) was 4.1 (±6.5) per player/playing career. Catchers had significantly less injuries than all other positions ( p = 0.027). 18.7% of all respondents reported suffering from arthritis, 24% from restricted joint mobility and 4% from chronically stiff fingers; all of these conditions were associated with their participation in baseball based on medical examination by their GP or medical specialist. 29.3% of respondents indicated that they had incurred additional medical costs and 12% reported significant loss of income associated with their injuries. Some injuries were severe enough that they resulted in extended stays in hospital producing costs carried by the health care system.