In Athletes The ulnar collateral ligament bundle is made up the anterior, posterior, and transverse bands.
In Athletes The ulnar collateral ligament bundle is made up the anterior, posterior, and transverse bands. The anterior band is most frequently injured in throwing. The anterior band originates from the medial epicondyle and inserts on the sublime tubercle of the ulna.
The anterior band acts to oppose the high valgus stress put on the elbow during the acceleration phase of throwing. A cadaver UCL can withstand 32.1 N-m of valgus stress before failing. In a study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine by Glenn Fleisig and James Andrews, they found that the UCL was subjected to 34.6 N-m during pitching, which puts it right at the point of failing.
As pitchers continue to throw harder and faster, the incidence of UCL injuries has been increasing. To date, there still has not been a rehab program that has been shown to prevent the development of UCL tears. As a result, we have shifted to identifying risk factors for injury and using these to modify activity in those individuals at risk.
Studies looking in to UCL injuries most commonly focus on pitch volume, pitch type, and biomechanics of pitching. Published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2006, researchers looked at risk factors for developing a UCL injury. What they found was that pitchers who threw more than 100 innings in a year had a 3.5 times higher risk of developing a serious injury.
This builds on previous studies that show an association with pitch count in a season and developing elbow pain. Based on some of this early data regarding innings pitched and pitch count, the USA Baseball Medica/Safety Advisory Committee put out their recommendations on pitching and rest. Figure one is a table that was endorsed by the USA Baseball Medical/Safety Advisory Committee on days of rest for pitchers.
If you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to risk factors for ucl injury, it is important to see a sports medicine physician. Early evaluation and treatment typically lead to better outcomes. Do not ignore pain or symptoms that are limiting your activity.
*This article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.*
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