Background:Pitch counts are only one measure of the true workload of baseball pitchers. Newer research indicates that workload measurement and prevention of injury must include additional factors. Thus, current monitoring systems gauging pitcher workload may be considered inadequate.Purpose/Hypothesis:The purpose of this study was to develop a novel method to determine workload in baseball pitchers and improve processes for prevention of throwing-related injuries. It was hypothesized that our pitching workload model would better predict throwing-related injuries occurring throughout the baseball season than a standard pitch count model.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.Methods:This prospective observational study was conducted at an academic medical center and community baseball fields during the 2019 to 2023 seasons. Pitchers aged 13 to 18 years were monitored for pitching-related injuries and workload (which included pitching velocity; intensity, using preseason and in-season velocity as a marker of effort; and pitch counts).Results:A total of 71 pitchers had 313 recorded pitcher outings, 11 pitching-related injuries, and 24,228 pitches thrown. Gameday pitch counts for all pitchers ranged from 19 to 219 (mean, 77.5 ± 41.0). Velocity ranged from 46.8 to 85.7 mph (mean, 71.3 ± 5.8 mph). Intensity ranged from 0.7 to 1.3 (mean, 1.0 ± 0.08). The mean workload was 74.7 ± 40.1 for all pitchers. Risk factors significant for injury included throwing at a higher velocity in game ( P = .001), increased intensity (eg, an increase in mean velocity thrown from preseason to in-season; P < .001), and being an older pitcher ( P = .014). No differences were found for workload between injured and noninjured pitchers because the analysis was underpowered.Conclusion:Our workload model indicated that throwing at a higher velocity, throwing at a higher intensity, and older age were risk factors for injury. Thus, this novel workload model should be considered as a means to identify pitchers who may be at greater risk for injury.

中文翻译：

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高中棒球投手投球相关伤害的工作量风险因素

背景：投球数只是衡量棒球投手真实工作量的一项指标。最新的研究表明，工作量测量和伤害预防必须包括其他因素。因此，当前测量投手工作量的监测系统可能被认为是不够的。目的/假设：本研究的目的是开发一种新方法来确定棒球投手的工作量并改进预防投掷相关伤害的流程。假设我们的投球工作量模型比标准投球计数模型能够更好地预测整个棒球赛季中发生的投掷相关伤害。证据级别，2。方法：这项前瞻性观察研究是在 2019 年至 2023 赛季期间在学术医疗中心和社区棒球场进行的。对 13 至 18 岁的投手进行了与投球相关的伤害和工作量（其中包括投球速度、强度，使用季前赛和赛季中速度作为努力程度的标记；以及投球计数）的监测。 结果：总共 71 名投手有 313记录的投手外出次数、11 次投球相关受伤以及 24,228 次投球。比赛日所有投手的投球数从 19 到 219 不等（平均值为 77.5 ± 41.0）。速度范围为 46.8 至 85.7 英里/小时（平均值为 71.3 ± 5.8 英里/小时）。强度范围为 0.7 至 1.3（平均值为 1.0 ± 0.08）。所有投手的平均工作量为 74.7 ± 40.1。造成伤害的重要风险因素包括比赛中投掷速度较高 (P = .001)、强度增加（例如，从季前赛到赛季中平均投掷速度增加；P < .001）以及年龄较大的投手（ P = .014)。由于分析动力不足，受伤和未受伤投手之间的工作量没有发现差异。结论：我们的工作量模型表明，投掷速度较高、投掷强度较高和年龄较大是受伤的危险因素。因此，这种新颖的工作量模型应被视为识别可能面临更大受伤风险的投手的一种手段。