title: A preliminary investigation into the long-term injury consequences reported by retired baseball players.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: School of Exercise Science and Sport Management, Southern Cross University, Australia. rmeir@scu.edu.au
authors.forename: Rudi A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Meir
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Weatherby
authors.forename: Margaret I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Rolfe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001484:Baseball / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012179:Retirement