Analyzing the Characteristics of Tommy John Surgeries: Insights from the DVS Baseball Injury Risk Model
In our ongoing commitment to understanding and mitigating injury risks in baseball, we've delved into the characteristics of the last 40 Tommy John (TJ) Surgeries entered into the DVS Baseball Injury Risk Model. These surgeries, affecting pitchers 25 years or younger, have provided valuable insights into the factors influencing throwing arm injuries in the sport.
Key Metrics of the Last 40 TJ Surgeries
DVS SCORE: 12.07 out of 24 The DVS SCORE plays a crucial role in profiling the pitching delivery sequence concerning throwing arm injury risk. The higher the DVS Score, the lower the chance of a significant arm injury. The MLB Average DVS Score is 14.03, providing context to evaluate individual pitchers.
MM_SCORE: 2.07 out of 4 The MM_SCORE assesses the efficiency of the drive leg in initiating the pitching delivery sequence. An intriguing correlation emerges – for every increase in MM_SCORE, a pitcher reduces their overall injury risk by 22%. This underscores the importance of the lower body in injury prevention.
PAFS_VERTDIFF_DEG: 26.05 The PAFS_VERTDIFF_DEG measures the degree of difference between the throwing forearm and the spine at footstrike. Higher scores in MM_SCORE increase hip rotation, aligning the throwing forearm more closely with the spine (parallel) or within 0 to 10 degrees. This alignment reduces stress on the arm during the delivery.
PAA_SPINE_DEG: 31.32 The PAA_SPINE_DEG represents the total degrees away from the midline where the throwing wrist is at the point of maximum shoulder external rotation. A greater distance (25 degrees or more) from the midline correlates with increased stress on the throwing arm pitch by pitch.
Contextualizing the Data
The pitchers analyzed had an average age of 25 and underwent Tommy John Surgery after just 394 pitched, including applicable amateur and professional innings. While this data represents a small sample within our extensive database, it provides a snapshot of the specific characteristics influencing injury risk in throwing arms.
Understanding the Limitations
It's essential to recognize that these metrics don't present a comprehensive injury risk profile for a pitcher. However, they significantly contribute to understanding specific risk factors associated with arm injuries in the sport.
As we continue to refine and expand our database, the insights gained from these last 40 Tommy John Surgeries reinforce the importance of biomechanical metrics in injury prevention. By comprehensively assessing factors such as DVS SCORE, MM_SCORE, PAFS_VERTDIFF_DEG, and PAA_SPINE_DEG, we move closer to creating a holistic understanding of injury risk in baseball, ultimately working towards the well-being of pitchers at all levels.
