OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether 100 consecutive pitches induce clinically meaningful increases in medial elbow joint space gap (MJS) in high school baseball players and to examine associations with player characteristics, including early multi-sport participation. METHODS: = 17). The pitching group threw 100 fastballs at maximal effort, whereas controls rested for an equivalent duration. MJS was measured by ultrasonography before and after pitching or rest. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for MJS change (mm and %) was calculated using a distribution-based method (0.5 × SD of the pitching group's MJS increase). Group × time effects were tested using a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA, and univariate analyses explored relationships between MJS change and participant characteristics. RESULTS: = 0.007). No associations were found with pitch velocity or body composition. CONCLUSION: A single bout of 100 pitches did not produce clinically meaningful MJS widening in high school baseball players. However, early multi-sport participation was related to reduced MJS expansion, suggesting that diversified sport experience may be an important background factor when refining pitch-count guidance.
Suzuki et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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