Spring has sprung and baseball season has begun for high school players with little league practice and games soon to follow. One of the most common topics of debate is the pitch count in players of all ages.

So why is it important to follow these recommendations? Throwing a baseball places a lot of stress on the shoulder and elbow, especially in young children as their bones and muscles are still developing. If those areas are placed under too much stress injuries can occur. There are several common injuries that occur in pitching athletes, those include: little league elbow, UCL sprain, thrower’s shoulder and muscle strains. Each of these injuries can require a lengthy time away from sport as it takes time to fully recover.

Little League elbow is a condition in which repeated stress to the elbow leads to inflammation and irritation around the growth plate on the inside of the elbow. This injury is most seen in players from the age of 9-14. The UCL is the ligament on the inside of the elbow that helps supply support and stability when throwing. During the throwing motion there is a lot of stress placed on this ligament. That stress can lead to a sprain or tear of this ligament. The UCL is best known for the procedure to surgically repair when there is a tear. That procedure is known as Tommy John and takes 9 months to 1 year to return to throwing competitively. Thrower’s shoulder is caused by the widening of the growth plate of the upper arm bone meets the scapula to form the shoulder. This widening is caused by repetitive stress such as throwing a ball over and over. The widening causes an inflammatory response by the body resulting in shoulder pain. Muscle strains can occur to the rotator cuff muscles, latissimus dorsi or obliques. All the above muscles are critical during the throwing motion and if they are not properly given a suitable time of recovery, they are more susceptible to injury such as strains/pulls or tears.

Now that we have discussed pitch count and potential injuries associated with overuse of the throwing arm and shoulder let’s talk about the best way to prevent those injuries. One of the top recommendations is to follow the pitch count recommendations listed above. Another critical thing to acknowledge to avoid injury is fatigue. Allow proper period for rest and recovery, this includes avoiding year around play. The body needs at least 2 months off and ideally 3-4 months off from overhead sport activity. A common occurrence is young athletes playing for more than one team or two separate leagues during one season. Playing this often leads to overuse and increases the potential chance of injury. Showcase events and pitching in front of radar guns are other ways in which players exert themselves in a nature that may not be the best for the health of their shoulder and elbow. Often in these two cases a proper warm up is not completed along with increased exertion which can increase exposure to injury.

At PRO Physical Therapy we want our athletes to perform at their highest level and safely! If you are dealing with an arm/shoulder injury or have any questions in regard to shoulder safety/maintenance, feel free to contact us at 270-252-7600.

Stay fit, motivated, and challenged!   

 
Scan our QR Code with your phone to visit PRO Physical Therapy Website!

You can also click on our website link:  https://prophysicaltherapyservices.com

270-252-7600

302 US HWY 68 West

Benton KY 42082 

Stay fit, motivated, and challenged!   

 
Scan our QR Code with your phone to visit PRO Physical Therapy Website!

You can also click on our website link:  https://prophysicaltherapyservices.com

270-252-7600

302 US HWY 68 West

Benton KY 42082