Are Catchers' Knees Expendable? - The Occupational Injury NPB Ignored
The toll of catching on knees: over 100 squats per game, chronic cartilage damage, and the evolving prevention strategies in NPB.
Articles tagged with injury
Kazumi Saito the Tragic Ace - Injuries That Struck the Two-Time Sawamura Winner
Kazumi Saito, the SoftBank ace who won two Sawamura Awards with 20 wins in 2003 and 18 in 2006, only to have his career effectively ended at 29 by shoulder injuries.
Pitcher Abuse at Koshien - Young Arms Destroyed for Victory
At Koshien, ace pitchers throwing hundreds of pitches over consecutive days has long been romanticized. Behind this narrative, many young pitchers destroyed their arms and never fulfilled their professional potential.
Pitcher Overuse at Koshien - Teenage Arms Destroyed Behind the Drama
Ace pitchers throwing 150-plus pitches on consecutive days at Koshien has long been consumed as inspirational drama. But the cost is a steady stream of broken arms before players even turn professional.
The Pitch Count Revolution - From Complete Game Aesthetics to the 100-Pitch Limit
NPB starting pitchers' average pitch counts are declining yearly, with 100-pitch exits becoming standard. This article examines the shift from complete game virtue to workload management through data and injury risk analysis.
Behind the Scenes of Trainers - The Reality of Medical Staff Protecting Players
When a player is injured during an NPB game, trainers rush from the dugout. What do they observe and how do they decide? This article reveals the unseen work of team trainers from emergency treatment to rehabilitation management.
Pitcher Injury Prevention - From the Era of Overuse to the Frontline of Sports Science
NPB loses numerous pitchers to shoulder and elbow injuries annually. This article traces the evolution from Kazuhisa Inao's 78-appearance era to modern biomechanical analysis and wearable technology.
The Tommy John Surgery Epidemic - Structural Causes Behind Pitcher Elbow Destruction
NPB pitchers undergoing Tommy John surgery (UCL reconstruction) are increasing. This article examines structural causes of pitcher elbow destruction from youth overuse through high school exploitation to professional overwork, and prevention efforts.