Author(s): MITSUI, K., IWAMOTO, S., Institution: GRADUATE SCHOOL OF TOYO UNIVERSITY, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 772

INTRODUCTION:
Baseball in Japan is one of the worlds top-class sports, and the national high school baseball tournament is very popular. On the other hand, it is known that there are many non-time-loss injuries high school baseball players [1], and many players continue to play without consulting others even though they are aware of their injuries [2]. The prevalence and severity of these injuries are underestimated since they continue to practice in this manner [3]. This study will clarify the reality of unreported pain and injury, and on how factors influence Japanese high school baseball players.
METHODS:
A web-based questionnaire was administered to players (619 players) who have been members of the baseball clubs of member schools of the Prefectural High School Baseball Federation for at least one year. The 579 players who had experienced an injury were surveyed about their experience of concealing the injury. Players classified into two groups: a group of players who answered "never" or "rarely" (rare group) and "often" or "always" (frequent group). The following factors were investigated: knowledge of how to deal with injuries, methods of mitigation, persons familiar with mitigation methods, and assist in mitigating injuries.
RESULTS:
With each increase in the knowledge scale, the higher the risk of concealing injuries (odds ratio (OR) = 1.41, 95% confidence Intervals (CI) : 1.07-1.86, p=0.015). Furthermore, methods of mitigation "massage" (OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.42-3.51, p<0.001), persons familiar with mitigation methods "doctor" (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.02-2.57, p=0. 039), "therapist" (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.00-2.40, p=0.049) and assist in mitigating injuries "therapist" (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.21-3.03, p=0.005) had a significantly higher risk of concealing injuries. On the other hand, methods of mitigation "dietary content and quantity" (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.28-0.93, p=0.027), persons familiar with mitigation methods "coach" (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.33-0.80, p=0.004) and assist in mitigating injuries “coach" (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.34-0.92, p=0.021) had a significantly lower risk of concealing injuries.
CONCLUSION:
Players who did not report injuries among high school baseball players were seeing their doctor and receiving massages from therapist. The results of this study suggest that an educational program increase ‘coaches understanding, and knowledge of injuries might be effective in reducing the number of players who do not report injuries.
REFERENCES:
1. Z. Y. Kerr, et al., Descriptive Epidemiology of Non-Time-Loss Injuries in Collegiate and High School Student-Athletes. J Athl Train, 2017. 52(5): p.446–456.
2. E. C. Makhni et al., Arm pain in youth baseball players: a survey of healthy players. Am J Sports Med, 2015. 43(1): p.41–46.
3. R. Bahr, No injuries, but plenty of pain? On the methodology for recording overuse symptoms in sports. Br J Sports Med,2009. 43(13): p.966–972.