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Sliding-Associated Injuries in College and
Professional Baseball -- 1990-1991
Softball and baseball are among the most frequent causes of
sports-related emergency department visits in the United States,
accounting for an estimated 321,000 injuries in 1989 (1).
Approximately 71% of softball-related injuries are caused by
sliding (2). The use of breakaway bases substantially decreases the
risk for or occurrence of sliding-related injuries among
recreational softball league players (3). This report summarizes
the findings of a study on the impact of breakaway base use on
sliding injuries among college and professional minor league
baseball players (4).
During 1990 and 1991, 19 teams participating in the study used
breakaway bases on their home field and stationary bases during
away games for one of the two seasons. During the first season, the
teams comprised one college and six professional minor league
teams; during the second season, seven college and five minor
league teams were added to the study. Base-sliding injuries and
comments about the bases were recorded on a standard form by team
physicians, athletic trainers, managers, or administrative staff
for these teams.
During the 2-season period, the teams played an aggregate 498
away games using stationary bases and 486 home games using
breakaway bases. Ten sliding injuries were recorded (2.0 per 100
games) during away games and two (0.4 per 100 games) during home
games (relative risk=4.9; 95% confidence interval=1.2-19.2). Of the
10 injuries involving stationary bases, seven were ankle sprains
(average participation time missed: 12 days), and three were knee
injuries (one medial collateral ligament sprain and two meniscus
tears that required surgery {both were season-ending}). Of the two
injuries involving breakaway bases, one was a minor shoulder
contusion incurred when the player slid head first into a base that
did not release. The second injury occurred when a player slid
toward the base and sustained an ankle fracture; however, the
player did not make contact with the base.
Surveys of managers and trainers indicated that all teams
planned to continue using breakaway bases. Umpires reported that
breakaway bases did not complicate judgment calls (i.e., "safe"
versus "out") when the bases released (54 {2.7%} of 2028 total
slides on breakaway bases).
Reported by: DH Janda, MD, D Mackesy, MD, Institute for Preventive
Sports Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan. R Maguire, Bucknell Univ,
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. RJ Hawkins, MD, Steadman-Hawkins Clinic,
Vail, Colorado. P Fowler, MD, Univ of Western Ontario, London,
Ontario, Canada. J Boyd, MD, Orthopaedic Consultants, Minneapolis.
Epidemiology Br, Div of Injury Control, National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control, CDC. Editorial Note
Editorial Note: The findings in this report suggest that breakaway
bases decrease the risk and severity of sliding injuries among
college and minor league baseball teams (4). The potential public
health impact of increased use of breakaway bases is important: in
the United States, 712 college and 168 minor league teams compete
in organized baseball. In addition, an estimated 40 million adults
participate in organized softball leagues that play approximately
23 million games per year (3,5).
Most base-sliding injuries result from judgment errors of the
runners, poor sliding technique, poor timing, and/or inadequate
physical conditioning (3). Breakaway bases are a passive
intervention that modifies the outcome of these factors. The
quick-release feature of the breakaway bases decreases the impact
load generated against the athlete's limb and subsequent trauma.
Additional studies should assess the usefulness of age-appropriate
breakaway bases in organized baseball and softball for children.
Furthermore, such studies should attempt to address the effect of
potential biases (e.g., nonblinding with respect to the hypothesis
being tested and the need for uniform definitions of injury). The
findings in this report suggest that breakaway bases should be used
at all levels of adult softball and baseball play.
References
US Consumer Product Safety Commission. National Electronic
Injury Surveillance System: January-December 1989. NEISS Data
Highlights 1990;13.
Janda DH, Hankin FM, Wojtys EM. Softball injuries: cost, cause
and prevention. Am Fam Physician 1986;33:143-4.
Janda DH, Wojtys EM, Hankin FM, et al. Softball sliding
injuries: a prospective study comparing standard and modified
bases. JAMA 1988;259:1848-50.
Janda DH, Maguire R, Mackesy D, Hawkins RJ, Fowler P, Boyd J.
Sliding injuries in college and professional baseball: a
prospective study comparing standard and break-away bases. Clinical
Journal of Sports Medicine (in press).
CDC. Softball sliding injuries -- Michigan, 1986-1987. MMWR
1988;37:169-70.
Disclaimer
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