The role of repetitive loading and variability in pitcher's elbow injuries

The podcast episode explores the effect of repetitive loading, such as throwing 100 pitches, on a pitcher's elbow. The focus is on understanding the role of variability in injury and individual differences in responding to load. The rise in UCL injuries in baseball pitchers is discussed, along with the traditional ways of mitigating injury through load and frequency. The podcast summarizes a study published in Scientific Risk Reports that examines the magnitude and variability of individual elbow load in repetitive baseball pitching. The main idea is to understand the relationship between torque on the elbow and injury, considering both the traditional view of decreased repeatability in mechanics leading to injury, and the newer view that variability might actually be a protective mechanism. The study found no significant changes in force magnitude or variability on a group level, but revealed extreme individual differences in both force and muscle activation patterns.