This cross-sectional study aimed to clarify the changes in lifestyle and baseball activity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among youth baseball players. Participants were 99 youth baseball players (ages 9.6 ± 1.5 years, height 137.8 ± 9.4 cm, weight 35.3 ± 12.4 kg) in Japan. They completed an online survey between April 6 and 20, 2021, on their demographic characteristics, lifestyle (recreational screen, sleep, and study times), and baseball activity (frequency of team practice time and voluntary exercise-related baseball) at two-time points: before the pandemic (before March 2020) and during the state of emergency declared in Japan (from April to May 2020). The changes in outcomes between the two-time points were evaluated for significance. Recreational screen time and sleeping time during the state of emergency were significantly increased compared to those before the pandemic (p < 0.001). The frequency of team practice time on weekends during the state of emergency was significantly reduced, and voluntary exercise-related baseball was significantly increased compared to that before the pandemic (p < 0.01). We found that the COVID-19 pandemic changed behaviors concerning activities and exercise among youth baseball players and recommended that such behavioral changes be carefully monitored.
The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of repetitive pitching by adolescent baseball pitchers on joint range of motion (ROM) and muscle flexibility. [Participants and Methods] Body function of 29 pitchers who belonged to junior high school baseball teams was measured before and after a repetitive 75-throw sequence. Measurement items included joint ROM, muscle flexibility, angle of thoracic kyphosis, latissimus dorsi muscle strength, and posterior shoulder tightness. The speed of the pitched balls was measured as an indicator of performance. [Results] Throw-side shoulder joint internal rotation ROM, non-throw-direction trunk rotation ROM, and non-throw-side gastrocnemius muscle flexibility decreased significantly after the throwing sequence, throwside hip joint inner rotation ROM increased significantly, while pitched-ball speed showed no significant change. [Conclusion] Adolescent baseball players are more likely affected than adults baseball players by rupture of the kinetic chain. Our finding of changes in physical function in the absence of changes in performance suggests rupture of the kinetic chain of normal throwing in these subjects.
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