The central focus of the Institute for Preventative Sports Medicine is
medical research on ways to reduce soprts-related injuries. Research projects
currently underway include:
Chest Impact Induced Arrhythmia in Youth: A Study of Causes and
Preventative Measures for Young Baseball Players Each year more than a
dozen pre-teens suffer fatal arrhythmia as a result of being struck in the chest
by pitched balls. This study is examining the mechanism by which arrhythmia is
induced and possible equipment and rules changes to reduce the likelihood of
injury.
Reducing Player Injuries Caused by Impact with Goal
Cages Collisions with heavy soccer goal cages cause more than a dozen
fatal injuries among youth players each year, and scores of lesser injuries.
This study performs an historical analysis of injuries and examines possible
preventative measures, including the design of impact absorbing goal cages.
Cognitive Dysfunction Related to "Heading" Techniques in
Soccer This is a U.S. follow-up to a study begun in New Zealand in which
improper "heading" techniques were shown to result in measurable and
irreversible loss of cognitive function in youth and young adult soccer players.
This study is examining the safe techniques possible for this element of soccer,
possible rules changes, and the use of protective headgear for training
purposes.
Improved Training and Playing Techniques in Pitching: Reducing Arm and
Shoulder Injuries due to Pitching Pitching injuries, primarily to the
shoulder, elbow and wrist, are among the most common and most debilitating to
players at all levels of the sport, but especially at the collegiate and
professional level where pitching technique and arm/ball velocity are very high.
This program examines training, warm up and pitching techniques, to be used in
both the prevention and the rehabilitation of injuries most common in the
sport.
Additional projects underway:
- Follow-up studies on the effectiveness of break-away bases
- The role of soft core baseballs in reducing injury from head impact
- Alternative coaching techniques in football
- The development and testing of a different type of cleated structure to
reduce foot, ankle and knee injuries in football
- A study of non-lethal projectiles used at sporting events for crowd control
- A surveillance study assessing the prevalence and severity of recreational
basketball injuries
- The prevention of cervical spine injuries in hockey
- A comprehensive study of shin guards and their protective capabilities in
soccer
Proposed projects for the future include:
- Development of further protective head gear for football and biking
- Improved surfaces for running
- A shoulder injury prevention program
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