Dh. Janda et al., BLUNT CHEST IMPACTS - ASSESSING THE RELATIVE RISK OF FATAL CARDIAC INJURY FROM VARIOUS BASEBALLS, The journal of trauma, injury, infection, and critical care, 44(2), 1998, pp. 298-303
Objective: To compare various soft-core baseballs for their ability to
reduce the risk of fatal chest-impact injury. Design: This study used
a three-rib biomechanical surrogate to quantitatively analyze chest i
mpacts from nine soft-core baseballs and one standard baseball, which
served as the control. Impacts were achieved with an air cannon system
, with the velocity of impact being 40, 50, and 60 mph. Materials and
Methods: The deflection of the three-rib structure at the sternum was
measured and used to calculate the viscous criterion, which correlates
with risk of chest-impact injury. Measurements and Main Results: Anal
ysis showed that baseballs with lighter mass had a significantly lower
viscous criterion ( p < 0.05). Those with a similar mass had no chang
e in the viscous criterion, and the heaviest soft-core baseball had a
significantly higher viscous criterion at an impact velocity of 60 mph
. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that soft-core baseba
lls may not differ from a standard baseball with regard to the risk of
fatal chest-impact injury while playing baseball. Other techniques, s
uch as preventive coaching, need to be implemented when trying to impr
ove baseball safety.