CHICAGO, Ill. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — More than 30 million kids across the country play some type of organized sports. But when you play a sport often enough, you know, there’s going to be injuries. In fact, more than 3.5 million kids are sidelined by injuries each year. Of course, there’s always the hard hit or broken bone, but a lot of sports injuries can be caused by overuse and wrong form. Now, a technology, once reserved for the pros, is helping kids take their game to the next level. Sports Performance
Quin Brigham, High School Baseball Pitcher, has thrown hundreds …
Probably thousands … of baseballs throughout his life.
Quin says, “I’ve been playing baseball since I was, forever, three years old.”
And he’s played through some serious pain.
Quin explains, “I started to get pain up here and I didn’t really think anything of it. I just kept playing through and then slowly, it started to go down to my elbow.”
He tried motion capture technology to try to pinpoint the problem. Athletic trainer, Dave Heidloff at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Sports Performance Center uses 3D models to breakdown the mechanics of Quin’s throw.
Dave says, “We’re able to see what things look good, where you’re efficient and where you’re inefficient. And those inefficiencies are, really, a big factor in reducing your speed or velocity on your throws, but they’re also, likely, going to overstress tissues and predispose you to injury risk.”
The technology analyzes 13 different joint measurements in real-time, details timing, measures nine different stresses through the shoulder and elbow. And can track velocity, strength, and balance.
Trainers know immediately if their interventions are working or not.
Quin says, “I used to be, like, way down here with my arm, just right here. And now, I’m more here and I’m driving through.”
After tweaking his technique, Quin is pain-free and now hopes this technology will be a real gamechanger.
Quin says, “It’s been my dream to play in college, so I’m gonna try to take it as far as I can.”
3D motion capture technology is not just good for baseball players, but anyone who plays sports and has reoccuring pain.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor, Kirk Manson, Videographer.
Sources:
3D MOTION: GAMECHANGER IN SPORTS PERFORMANCE
REPORT #3183
BACKGROUND: Sports injuries are typically caused by trauma or overuse of the body’s muscles and joints. They include bruises, sprains, strains, fractures, and dislocations. In the United States, there are more than 3.5 million sports injuries per year involving children and teens, with sprains and strains being the most common injury. Playground injuries and bicycle-related injuries occur most often among children between ages five and 14 years old, and around 50 percent of head injuries sustained in sports or recreational activities occur during bicycling, skateboarding, or skating incidents. It is considered rare to die from a sports injury, however, brain injury is the leading cause of death when it comes to sports injuries.
(Source: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/sports-injuries and https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/sports-injuries/sports-injury-statistics#:~:text=How%20frequently%20do%20sports%20injuries,are%20experienced%20by%20the%20participants)
SPORTS INJURY PREVENTION AND RECOVERY: Some minor sports injuries can be treated at home with rest, ice, and over-the-counter medications. However, more serious injuries may require medical treatment and physical therapy. A physical exam can help diagnose the sports injury while imaging tests, like x-ray or MRI, may also be recommended for a clearer diagnosis. Choosing a sport that is less dangerous, like those involving no contact, will help avoid such major injuries. Changing it up and playing multiple sports helps with joint and muscle overuse. Drinking plenty of water, stretching, and wearing proper shoes are vital in helping to prevent any injuries. Depending on the injury, recovery times vary. With minor injuries, some rest, ice, and elevation over a few days can help to recover and get back in the game. More serious injuries can take a longer period of time to recover as it may involve surgery and physical therapy.
(Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22093-sports-injuries)
NEW STUDY ON DIGITAL INFORMATION AND SPORTS: A study out of Linköping University in Sweden is showing injuries in young athletes are reduced when digital information is available on adolescent growth. A survey of injuries in Swedish athletics showed that one of the main causes of injury was prior injury. In youth sports injuries, however, everything is associated with injury from training amount and load to equipment, and even sleep. Jenny Jacobsson, physiotherapist and visiting researcher at the Athletics Research Center at Linköping University, developed a digital health platform containing information for parents and youth coaches on adolescent growth and how this is affected by training, with a focus on athletes aged 12 to 15. “We haven’t investigated the mechanism leading to change, but we can see that digital information works when it comes to injury prevention. If coaches and parents learn to recognize the problems, it’s possible to reduce the training load in time,” said Jacobsson.
(Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230313121008.htm)
* For More Information, Contact: Ann Pitcher
Pitcher Communications
Telephone: 630-234-4150
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