Category Ranking
98%
Total Visits
921
Avg Visit Duration
2 minutes
Citations
20
Article Abstract
Fastpitch softball is a popular women's sport, and athletes, particularly pitchers, are at high risk for overuse injury. Softball-related injury rates are low; however, the prevalence of overuse injuries is high. Injuries at the high school and collegiate levels occur early in the season, and approximately 50% of shoulder and elbow injuries in softball are attributable to overuse. Survey research showed 77% of high school pitchers pitch with pain, and 73% of collegiate pitchers reported an overuse injury in the previous season. Modifiable and non-modifiable intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors contribute to injury risk in a model that can be used in history taking, clinical examination, and management of softball-related injuries. In this manuscript, we present a scoping review of fastpitch softball injury research by competitive levels from 1990 to present. We also introduce a model for overuse injury causality in this athlete population. With this information, clinicians will be able to identify risk factors related to injury in softball pitchers. More research is needed to make evidence-based recommendations for injury prevention in this athlete population.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/a-2312-5051 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
A Description of Scapular Biomechanics in the Windmill Softball Pitch in Early High School Pitchers.
Int J Sports Med
July 2025
School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, USA.
The scapula facilitates the windmill pitching motion, providing a stable base for the shoulder muscles to accelerate the humerus. Given the repetitive range of motion facilitated by the shoulder musculature about the scapula, shoulder overuse injuries are a significant concern in softball pitchers. Therefore, we aimed to provide normative values of scapular kinematics during the windmill pitching motion in high school-aged softball pitchers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPitch counts and overuse in high school softball pitchers: a pilot study encompassing bullpen, warm-up, and game pitches.
J Sports Med Phys Fitness
July 2025
Florida Orthopedic Institute, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Background: Fastpitch softball participation continues to rise, yet there is minimal research into universal pitch count regulations for pitchers. The only current guidelines published by American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) in conjunction with the National Council for Youth Sports (NCYS), are based on pitch counts for youth baseball. The aim of this study was to quantify the total number of pitches thrown by high school fastpitch softball pitchers during a game outing to estimate the true workload experienced by the pitchers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomechanics of Fastpitch Softball Pitching: A Practitioner's Guide.
Sports Health
April 2025
Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.
Context: Despite fastpitch softball's growing popularity, there is limited evidence-based guidance to aid practitioners in developing pitching-specific injury prevention and performance enhancement strategies. This commentary describes the biomechanics across each phase of the softball pitch and provides explanation of common biomechanical errors during the pitch as well as training strategies and exercise recommendations to foster optimal pitcher development.
Evidence Acquisition: A review of softball pitching biomechanics research available in electronic databases including PubMed, Medline, and EBSCO.
Preseason Functional Movement Screen But Not Y-Balance Test Scores Predict Musculoskeletal Injury in Elite Female Fast-Pitch Softball Athletes.
J Sport Rehabil
July 2025
Department of Health, Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, USA.
Context: Functional movement screen (FMS) and Y-balance test (YBT) are used to predict the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. FMS and YBT tools in relation to injury in elite female softball athletes have not been examined.
Objectives: This study aims to (1) compare the differences in FMS, Y-Balance upper quarter (YBT-UQ), and lower quarter (YBT-LQ) scores between injured and noninjured group and (2) determine the ability of FMS and YBT scores to predict the odds of musculoskeletal injury in elite fast-pitch female softball athletes.
A Narrative Review of Softball Pitching Workload and Pitch Counts in Relationship to Injury.
Sports Health
December 2024
Sports Medicine and Movement Lab, School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.
Context: Fastpitch softball is a popular women's sport in the United States, and participation rates are increasing. There is growing concern about the prevalence of overuse injuries in softball pitchers at all competitive levels. Pitching workload in softball may be a modifiable risk factor and will be discussed in this narrative review.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF