title: Prevalence of posterior elbow problems in Japanese high school baseball players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various posterior elbow problems cause posterior elbow pain among baseball players. We aimed to determine the prevalence and diagnoses associated with posterior elbow problems and post-treatment recovery time for returning to sports in Japanese high school baseball players when treated in the off-season.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 576 Japanese high school baseball players who participated in baseball skill training camp during the off-season were enrolled in the study. The elbow of each player's throwing arm was assessed by use of a questionnaire and physical examination. Players with abnormal results were advised to visit the hospital. Players who visited the hospital were initially treated conservatively and underwent surgery if necessary. Retrospectively, players with positive physical examination results associated with posterior elbow pain, defined as olecranon tenderness and/or a positive elbow extension impingement test, were selected. Information about their position, elbow pain, physical examination results, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery time before returning to playing sports was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Olecranon tenderness and/or positive elbow extension impingement test results were found in 76 players (13.2%). Of these, 33 agreed to visit the hospital for further diagnostic imaging and 25 players (75.8%) were diagnosed with posteromedial elbow impingement. By the next spring, 87.9% of players returned to sport, and 100% of players returned to sport before the next summer. The average recovery period was 77 ± 47 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical examinations related to posterior elbow injuries were positive in 13.2% of high school baseball players. The most common diagnosis for posterior elbow pain was posteromedial elbow impingement. All players returned to competitive sports activity levels within 77 ± 47 days.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukuchiyama City Hospital, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kida
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuhei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sukenari
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kotoura
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hojo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Koshiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: fjwr@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001484:Baseball / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000068958:Return to Sport
keywords: Baseball; elbow; high school; impingement; posterior; posteromedial; sports; throwing injury