Still the #1 injury in kids, ankle sprains commonly occur during sports. The ankle “twists,” (usually inward) and the bottom of the foot faces the other ankle. Pain occurs rather immediately
What is the best way to slide in Baseball and Softball?
Baseball and softball are two of the most popular sports in America and in the world. While baseball is known as “America’s national pastime,” softball is actually the top recreational sport in this country (with over 40 million participants yearly). Although both are considered non-contact sports, there is one physically jarring aspect of the game that accounts for a significant number of injuries: sliding into a base. One study in college athletes reported a rate of 9.5 injuries per 1000 slides (12 per 1000 in softball and 6 per 1000 in baseball). Since there are two ways to slide (head-first or feet-first), it is important to understand which is better for the athlete.
Most coaches and athletes believe that sliding head-first will get the athlete onto the base more quickly than sliding feet first. If you watch enough professional baseball, you’ll notice that runners tend to slide head-first when they think the play will be very close and feet-first when they think the play is not that close. The vast majority of players also assume the head-first slide to be more dangerous. Anyone who saw Derek Jeter dislocate his shoulder sliding into third base in 2003 can certainly understand why. This controversy poses two particular questions, 1) Will the head-first slide get the runner onto the base more quickly than the feet-first slide? and 2) Is the head-first slide more dangerous?
To answer the first question, researchers from around the country concur there is no significant difference in the time to get to the base when comparing the head-first to the feet-first slide.
For the second question, which is safer?... researchers have not come to a clear consensus. Some reports suggest feet-first sliding accounts for a slightly higher number of injuries, but these usually involve the foot and ankle. Although foot and ankle injuries may be very serious, they are likely to be preferable to the potential head and neck or upper body injuries that may occur with head-first sliding. The most important factor appears to be good use of sound mechanics and to use proper technique. This requires detailed instruction and plenty of practice.
Injuries will happen, but there are ways to reduce their number and severity, and every step should be taken to do so. Over the years, baseball and softball have seen great advances in safety equipment for the players. Batters’ ankle, shin, and elbow guards are now almost as common as batting helmets. Many players wear wrist guards to prevent injuries when sliding. One more safety measure that should be considered is the use of breakaway bases. These are bases that are not securely locked into the dirt, but are held in place by magnets or Velcro. Use of these bases has lead to a reduction of the forces on the ankle when sliding feet-first. They might make the umpire’s job more difficult, but certainly they likely will reduce the number of ankle injuries seen.
Another possible safety advance involves uniforms. In college athletes, it has been found that softball players have a slightly higher rate of sliding injury than baseball players. One possible reason for this is the fact that softball players often wear shorts instead of pants, increasing their chances of getting an abrasion or laceration (scrapes and cuts). Though these are relative minor injuries, they should certainly be avoided if possible.
So what should you do next time you’re running full speed with your wrist guards and long pants on toward the breakaway second base where a shortstop is trying to tag you out? SLIDE! Slide whichever way you practiced and can do it well.
Randy Marrinan, MD
Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Mount Sinai Medical Center
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