BLUNT CHEST IMPACTS - ASSESSING THE RELATIVE RISK OF FATAL CARDIAC INJURY FROM VARIOUS BASEBALLS

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.