The aim of present study is to clarify the acute effect of baseball movements on the lumbar intervertebral disc. Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration occurs frequently in baseball players, changes to intervertebral disc herniation, and takes a long time for the players to return to competition. In recent years, a method has been used in which magnetic resonance imaging is taken before and after exercise to non-invasively evaluate the load on the lumbar intervertebral disc due to exercise. Using this method, we are verifying which the baseball movements have the greatest effect on lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.

    Currently, the experiment is ongoing, and the experiment of nine participants has been completed. Analysis of the data currently collected suggests that catching a ground ball affects the content of water molecules and movement of water molecules in the lumbar intervertebral disc, which are indicators of load on the intervertebral disc, compared with other movements. The results of present study, including data to be collected in the future and data that is currently unanalyzed, will be published as academic conferences and papers at domestic and overseas.