USE OF THE HOLLYWOOD IMPACT BASE AND STANDARD STATIONARY BASE TO REDUCE SLIDING AND BASE-RUNNING INJURIES IN BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL

To determine if the use of the Hollywood Impact Base would significantly reduce the frequency of sliding and base-running injuries to baseball and softball players, we recorded injury information for several teams who used these bases and standard stationary bases. The investigators, under the direction of the Central Michigan University team physician, verified each recorded incident by contacting the injured participant. The sample included interscholastic, intercollegiate, recreational, and intramural softball and baseball teams. There were 33,153 athlete-exposures with the Hollywood Impact Base in use and 3999 with the standard stationary base over a 2-year period (1990 and 1991). There were four injuries that could be directly attributed to the standard stationary base and only one injury that could be attributed to the Hollywood Impact Base. The results (t = -1.94, P < 0.05) verity that using the Hollywood Impact Base significantly reduced the frequency of sliding and base-running injuries. The Hollywood Impact Base injury rate of 0.08% per game compares favorably with the reported breakaway base injury rate. The results of our study verify that the Hollywood Impact Base is similarly effective in reducing the risk of base-related injuries.