Comparison of Factors Related to Low Back Pain in Elite Youth Baseball Players

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare training and practice volumes (extrinsic factors) and physical characteristics (intrinsic factors) between elite youth baseball players with and without LBP. METHODS A total of 271 elite youth baseball players (aged 8–16 years) were divided into two groups base...

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Main Authors: Daeho Ha, Satoshi Nagai, Byungjoo Noh, Shumpei Miyakawa, Masahiro Takemura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Asian Society of Kinesiology 2025-01-01
Series:The Asian Journal of Kinesiology
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Online Access:http://ajkinesiol.org/upload/pdf/ajk-2025-27-1-78.pdf
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author Daeho Ha
Satoshi Nagai
Byungjoo Noh
Shumpei Miyakawa
Masahiro Takemura
author_facet Daeho Ha
Satoshi Nagai
Byungjoo Noh
Shumpei Miyakawa
Masahiro Takemura
author_sort Daeho Ha
collection DOAJ
description OBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare training and practice volumes (extrinsic factors) and physical characteristics (intrinsic factors) between elite youth baseball players with and without LBP. METHODS A total of 271 elite youth baseball players (aged 8–16 years) were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of a lifetime history of LBP. Data on training and practice volume, flexibility, and demographic characteristics were collected through questionnaires and physical assessments. Statistical analyses, including independent t-tests and Pearson’s chi-square tests, were conducted to determine differences between groups. RESULTS Players in the LBP group exhibited significantly greater training and practice volumes compared to their non-LBP counterparts. Reduced flexibility was observed in the LBP group, particularly in the quadriceps femoris on both dominant and non-dominant sides (p<.001) and in the biceps femoris (hamstring) on the non-dominant side (p<.034). A higher prevalence of shoulder (28.5% vs. 16.8%) and elbow pain (44.3% vs. 27.4%) was noted in the LBP group compared to the non-LBP group. CONCLUSIONS This study found that low back pain in youth baseball players was associated with reduced lower extremity muscle flexibility and that players with back pain were more likely to develop shoulder and elbow injuries. Future prospective studies are necessary to establish a clearer causal relationship between low back pain and upper extremity injuries, particularly in the shoulder and elbow.
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spelling doaj-art-5da48464f21741a0bb26d603515657022025-08-20T02:32:11ZengAsian Society of KinesiologyThe Asian Journal of Kinesiology2586-55952586-55522025-01-01271788610.15758/ajk.2025.27.1.78630Comparison of Factors Related to Low Back Pain in Elite Youth Baseball PlayersDaeho Ha0Satoshi Nagai1Byungjoo Noh2Shumpei Miyakawa3Masahiro Takemura4 Doctoral Program in Sports Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tsukuba International University, Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan Department of Kinesiology, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, Republic of Korea Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JapanOBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare training and practice volumes (extrinsic factors) and physical characteristics (intrinsic factors) between elite youth baseball players with and without LBP. METHODS A total of 271 elite youth baseball players (aged 8–16 years) were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of a lifetime history of LBP. Data on training and practice volume, flexibility, and demographic characteristics were collected through questionnaires and physical assessments. Statistical analyses, including independent t-tests and Pearson’s chi-square tests, were conducted to determine differences between groups. RESULTS Players in the LBP group exhibited significantly greater training and practice volumes compared to their non-LBP counterparts. Reduced flexibility was observed in the LBP group, particularly in the quadriceps femoris on both dominant and non-dominant sides (p<.001) and in the biceps femoris (hamstring) on the non-dominant side (p<.034). A higher prevalence of shoulder (28.5% vs. 16.8%) and elbow pain (44.3% vs. 27.4%) was noted in the LBP group compared to the non-LBP group. CONCLUSIONS This study found that low back pain in youth baseball players was associated with reduced lower extremity muscle flexibility and that players with back pain were more likely to develop shoulder and elbow injuries. Future prospective studies are necessary to establish a clearer causal relationship between low back pain and upper extremity injuries, particularly in the shoulder and elbow.http://ajkinesiol.org/upload/pdf/ajk-2025-27-1-78.pdfinjury preventionlow back painmuscle flexibilitytraining volumeyouth baseball players
spellingShingle Daeho Ha
Satoshi Nagai
Byungjoo Noh
Shumpei Miyakawa
Masahiro Takemura
Comparison of Factors Related to Low Back Pain in Elite Youth Baseball Players
The Asian Journal of Kinesiology
injury prevention
low back pain
muscle flexibility
training volume
youth baseball players
title Comparison of Factors Related to Low Back Pain in Elite Youth Baseball Players
title_full Comparison of Factors Related to Low Back Pain in Elite Youth Baseball Players
title_fullStr Comparison of Factors Related to Low Back Pain in Elite Youth Baseball Players
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of Factors Related to Low Back Pain in Elite Youth Baseball Players
title_short Comparison of Factors Related to Low Back Pain in Elite Youth Baseball Players
title_sort comparison of factors related to low back pain in elite youth baseball players
topic injury prevention
low back pain
muscle flexibility
training volume
youth baseball players
url http://ajkinesiol.org/upload/pdf/ajk-2025-27-1-78.pdf
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