PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 5 November 2008, pp. 1160-1161 (doi:10.1542/peds.2008-2632)
LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
High School Baseball Injuries: In Reply
R. Dawn Comstock, PhDChristy L. Collins, MA
Center for Injury Research and Policy,
Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital,
Columbus, OH 43205
Recently, the controversy over performance standards of baseball bats gained prominence once again. Because most high school baseball players use metal bats, we had insufficient data to directly compare injury rates according to type of bat. However, we stand behind our recommendation that "helmets with face shields or at least mouth guards and eye protection be used by pitchers, infielders, and batters at the high school level"1 regardless of the type of bat used. In rebuttal of this recommendation, Dr Coen raises 2 common misconceptions.
The first is that metal bats increase risk of injury compared with wooden bats. Metal bats can be engineered to have greater batted ball velocity than wooden bats. A ball with greater speed imparts a higher level of energy on impact, which is the basis for the misconception that metal bats are more dangerous. However, the majority of young athletes participate in leagues that require that metal bats be engineered to have the same performance standard as wooden bats to be approved for use.2,3 Because batted ball speed should be equivalent, approved metal bats should pose no greater risk of injury than wooden bats.
Regardless of the bat used, every athlete is at risk of injury when hit by a batted ball. The most effective way to prevent head/face and dental injuries is the use of a helmet with full face shield. Alternatively, mouth guards and eye protection also prevent injuries. Research has shown consistently that face guards, eye protection, and mouth guards significantly reduce the risk of injury in youth baseball.4–8
The second misconception is that the introduction of new protective equipment will increase rather than decrease injury rates. Sports have strong traditions and cultures, and historically, introduction of protective equipment has been resisted. When helmets were introduced to football, ice hockey, and men's lacrosse, some were concerned that injury rates would increase. Athletes in these sports also use their peripheral vision to field fast-moving hard objects and avoid other players, and they also fall or dive during play; however, few clinicians today would argue that these sports would be safer if helmets were not required. In fact, we are unaware of a single published study reporting a significant increase in injury rates associated with the adoption of helmets, mouth guards, or eye protection.
Although changing a sport's culture is challenging, sports injury-prevention policies must be based on evidence rather than emotion.
REFERENCES
- Collins CL, Comstock RD. Epidemiological features of high school baseball injuries in the United States, 2005–2007.
Pediatrics. 2008;121
(6):1181
–1187
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Youth Committee of USA Baseball. USA Baseball's Youth Committee issues statement on non-wood bats [press release]. Available at: www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/02_2007/07usa_youth_baseball_012507.htm. Accessed August 25, 2008
- National Federation of State High School Associations. Baseball Rules Committee focuses on clarification of bat standards and sportsmanship during pre-game practice [press release]. Available at: www.nfhs.org/web/2003/06/baseball_rules_committee_focuses_on_clarification_of_bat_standar.aspx. Accessed August 22,2008
- Marshall SW, Mueller FO, Kirby DP, Yang J. Evaluation of safety balls and faceguards for prevention of injuries in youth baseball.
JAMA. 2003;289
(5):568
–574
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Vinger PF, Duma SM, Crandall J. Baseball hardness as a risk factor for eye injuries.
Arch Ophthalmol. 1999;117
(3):354
–358
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Danis RP, Hu K, Bell M. Acceptability of baseball face guards and reduction of oculofacial injury in receptive youth league players.
Inj Prev. 2000;6
(3):232
–234
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - ADA Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations; ADA Council on Scientific Affairs. Using mouthguards to reduce the incidence and severity of sports-related oral injuries.
J Am Dent Assoc. 2006;137
(12):1712
–1720; quiz 1731
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Knapik JJ, Marshall SW, Lee RB, et al. Mouthguards in sports activities: history, physical properties and injury prevention effectiveness. Sports Med. 2007;37 (2):117 –144[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
PEDIATRICS (ISSN 1098-4275). ©2008 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Facebook 
Reddit 
Technorati 
Twitter What's this?
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
