Early Sport Specialization Linked to Throwing Arm Function and Upper Extremity Injury History in College Baseball Players.

backgroundEvidence suggests that shoulder and elbow injuries account for 31% to 37% of all National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) baseball injuries, and up to 69% of NCAA baseball injuries are the result of noncontact and overuse mechanisms. Early sport specialization may contribute to the high rates of upper extremity injuries in college baseball players. HYPOTHESIS: Higher specialization by age 13 years would be associated with worse subjective throwing arm function and a greater history of shoulder and elbow injury. STUDY

designCohort study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2.

methodsSurvey data were collected from college baseball players (N = 129) during midseason of the spring 2019 baseball season. Participants were stratified in low, moderate, and high specialization groups based on a 3-criteria sports specialization questionnaire. Participants' throwing arm function was measured using the Functional Arm Scale for Throwers and the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic shoulder and elbow questionnaires. Participants' history of a shoulder or elbow injury that resulted in missing ≥2 weeks of baseball activity at any point in their baseball career was also collected.

resultsThe high specialization group reported worse subjective throwing arm function on the Functional Arm Scale for Throwers questionnaire than the low (

conclusionCollege baseball players that were highly specialized by age 13 years reported worse subjective throwing arm function and were more likely to have a history of upper extremity injury than players that were moderate or low specialization. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Early specialization in baseball may be detrimental to long-term upper extremity health in college baseball players.