Development of Real-Time Ligament Function Evaluation Method for Elbow Medial Joint Injury Caused by Sports

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K11359
• 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: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (2022-2023); University of Tsukuba (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Hara Yuki 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 病院 総合外科部, 医長 (30431688)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 肘関節内側側副靭帯 / 野球肘 / エコー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We conducted a comprehensive musculoskeletal medical check-up, elbow joint ultrasound examination, and high-resolution MRI of the elbow joint on university baseball players, and analyzed the data to proactively investigate the relationship with injuries. In the elbow joint ultrasound examination, we measured the joint gap opening distance, ligament length, and ligament thickness under different elbow joint angles in the supine position with natural limb position and 3 kg of valgus stress load, revealing the optimal examination limb position. We investigated the relationship between elbow joint laxity in baseball players and throwing motion measured by motion capture. The relationship between elbow valgus stress during throwing and throwing motion including trunk was demonstrated. The research results provided useful basic data for understanding the mechanism of onset of elbow valgus laxity and its relationship with injuries in baseball players.

Free Research Field

手外科　肘関節外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、野球選手の肘関節外反弛緩性とモーションキャプチャーにより測定された投球動作との関係を調査した初めての研究である。研究 1では、肘関節内側側副靭帯の病態把握に適した検査肢位を明らかにした。研究2では、モーションキャプチャーにより測定されたMEVと肘関節90度屈曲位で評価し，MEVが減少すると投球側における投球前のEVLが増加する傾向を明らかにした。これらの研究結果は、野球選手におけるEVLの発生機序や傷害との関連を理解する上で有用な基礎データとなる。今後、傷害やパフォーマンスとの関連を明らかにするさらなる研究が必要である。