During Game 3 of the World Series, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer exited the game after experiencing an oblique injury while swinging. Oblique injuries are well known in baseball, but they rarely occur in isolation.
While Springer’s reported injury involved the oblique muscles, this situation provides an important opportunity to discuss another commonly overworked and overlooked muscle in baseball players: the quadratus lumborum (QL).
This article is not diagnosing George Springer. Instead, it explains why QL overuse frequently accompanies oblique injuries in baseball and other one-sided sports.
Baseball involves repeated, high-velocity movements in the same direction:
Over time, this creates asymmetrical loading of the trunk and pelvis. One side consistently works harder, increasing the risk of overuse injuries.
The obliques and quadratus lumborum function as part of the body’s lateral core system.
Together, they:
When one muscle becomes fatigued or injured, such as the obliques, the QL often compensates, increasing its workload.
The QL is especially active during:
In a right-handed batter, for example, one side of the QL consistently absorbs more force. Over thousands of repetitions, this can lead to:
QL irritation is frequently described as:
Because it’s a deep muscle and often doesn’t show clearly on imaging, QL dysfunction may go unreported or grouped under oblique or back injuries.
When an oblique injury occurs:
This is why addressing only the obliques without assessing the QL, hips, and pelvis may leave athletes vulnerable to reinjury.
This isn’t unique to baseball. Similar patterns occur in:
Any sport that emphasizes repeated rotation in one direction places athletes at risk for trunk asymmetry and QL overload.
Effective management goes beyond rest. A comprehensive approach includes:
The key takeaway for baseball players and rotational athletes is simple:
Oblique injuries rarely happen alone.
The QL plays a critical role in trunk stability, force transfer, and injury prevention, especially in one-sided sports.
Ignoring asymmetry increases the risk of recurring trunk and lower-back injuries.
At our clinic, we work with athletes to:
✔ Identify asymmetrical trunk loading
✔ Assess QL, oblique, and hip function
✔ Restore rotational efficiency
✔ Reduce injury risk
✔ Improve performance longevity
George Springer’s oblique injury highlights how demanding rotational sports can be on the body. While the injury itself involved the obliques, it underscores the importance of evaluating the entire lateral core system, including the quadratus lumborum.
Proper assessment, balanced training, and early intervention are essential for athletes at all levels.
