The Rise of Oblique Injuries: Why and What is the Cause?

Oblique injuries have seen a sharp rise in professional baseball in recent years, particularly among pitchers. This raises the question: why are we seeing this increase, and what is the underlying cause? The explanation lies both on the field and in the gym, within the biomechanical approach to movement and performance, and especially in the failure to respect or simply the ignorance of individual motor preferences.

The Increase in Oblique Injuries

Available data shows a significant rise in the number of oblique injuries among pitchers. Players with a low mobile point in their spine are particularly vulnerable. This type of player moves differently than someone with a high mobile point. Their hips and shoulders always work in tandem, meaning a forced hip/shoulder separation forces them to work against their natural movement pattern.

The Cause: Incorrect Training and Cultural Misunderstandings

Within the baseball world, there is a strong focus on hip/shoulder separation, particularly among pitchers. Many training programs almost force athletes to maximize this separation, without considering their motor signature. For a player with a low mobile point, this means their body, especially the obliques, has to absorb extreme forces they were not designed to handle. This leads to overloading and ultimately injuries.

This issue is also seen in the gym. Although trainers often have good intentions, the failure to recognize a player’s individual motor preferences often causes more harm than good.

Data and Trends

Research shows that pitchers account for a large portion of oblique injuries.

Between 2011 and 2021, the number of oblique injuries in both MLB and MiLB has significantly increased, with a clear acceleration starting in 2021.

Below is a chart that compares the rise in oblique injuries with other abdominal injuries over the past 15 years:

Conclusion

The rise in oblique injuries in Pitching is no coincidence. It stems from a lack of understanding of individual motor preferences and a rigid approach to training and mechanics. Pitchers with a low mobile point are forced to work against their nature, leading to injuries.

Coaches and trainers need to become aware of motor signatures and adjust their programs to the natural movement patterns of their athletes. This is the only way to reduce the number of oblique injuries and keep players healthy and injury-free.