Can icing on the palm prevent throwing injuries on the shoulder?

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K11433
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59020:Sports sciences-related
• Research Institution: Chubu University
• Principal Investigator: MIYASHITA Koji 中部大学, 生命健康科学部, 教授 (40403604)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: アイシング / 手掌 / 投球障害 / 予防 / 野球 / 肩 / スポーツ現場 / コンディショニング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to verify whether throwing injury can be prevented by icing the palm. Experimental measurements have confirmed that cooling the palm prevents shoulder range of motion limitation and muscle weakness after a load is applied. Furthermore, for two months in the summer, university baseball players were asked to perform icing on their palms after practice at actual baseball sites. Some athletes were able to reduce tension and pain in their shoulders and elbows. In addition, about 60% of the athletes felt that it was effective in preventing heatstroke and preventing fatigue, although it was not a direct effect on the shoulders. By maintaining the condition of the whole body, such as reducing fatigue, it can be expected to have the effect of indirectly preventing pitching disorders.

Free Research Field

理学療法学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究はアイシングの新たな効果を検証し、証明した意義がある。投球障害予防の観点から、アイシングの使用法については賛否がある中で、直接、肩や肘を冷やすことのリスクを避けながらも、肩の機能、投球動作を改善させる可能性が示された。さらには、実際の現場での実践研究にて一定の効果があることも証明できた。
本研究は現場での疑問から出発した研究であり、現場に還元できる効果的な研究であると考える。この方法が適応かを個別で評価し、活用することで投球障害予防の一助となることが期待できる。