Baseball is a very popular youth sport in Orange County.  Younger baseball players (ages 6-14) are at an increased risk to throwing injuries secondary to their physical immaturity.  The arm’s anatomy predisposes it to increased risk of injury due to the greater laxity around the elbow joint and the instability of the shoulder during the throwing motion.

There are many different mechanisms for young pitchers to become injured; pitching while fatigued, overuse, excessive wrist supination when using breaking pitches and improper mechanics.  Recent studies reveal throwing 75-99 pitches per game show a 35% increased risk of elbow pain and a 52% increased shoulder pain.  The Medical and Safety Advisory Committee has established maximum pitch counts.  Pitchers should throw no more than two times a week.

• 8-10 years old should throw up to 52 (+ or - 15) pitches per game
• 11-12 years old should throw up to 68 (+ or - 18) pitches per game
• 13-14 years old should throw up to 76 (+ or - 16) pitches per game

To further help prevent injuries in young pitches, coaches and parents need to be proactive.  First, rest is very important.   Studies reveal fatigue and overuse are the number one reason why injuries occur in the shoulder and elbow.  Secondly, teach proper pitching fundamentals, follow low pitch count guidelines, and use preventative measures such as ice.

Following these simple guidelines will help prevent arm injuries and allow children to have fun playing baseball.

Many Americans are inactive or exercise at an intensity too low to derive cardiovascular benefit. As a result obesity, heart disease and diabetes rates continue to rise. The surgeon general’s report on physical activity and health, encourages physicians to prescribe exercise for patients.
To ensure success in the exercise regimen, it is important to avoid injuries, Literature reveals 30 - 50% of all sports injuries are due to overuse. Stress fractures, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, ITB syndrome are just a few overuse injuries that result from repetitive micro trauma that leads to inflammation and local tissue damage. Without proper recovery, excessive training results in an injury.
Overuse injuries tend to occur when an athlete changes the mode, intensity or duration of training too rapidly. Our bodies require a period of transition to adapt to the increased physical demands. To prevent these injuries from occurring “prehabilitation” has been introduced. Prehabilitation is a preparticipation examination to identify an individual’s weaknesses and flexibility deficits. By addressing any significant findings through strengthening, stretching and discussing a proper training progression, it will be possible to drastically reduce the incidence of an overuse injury and maintain an active healthy lifestyle.

Spring is just around the corner and youth baseball is already underway. As we approach the upcoming season, we encourage you to take a look at data FreeMotion Physical Therapy has from renowned Orthopaedic surgeon Orr Limpisvasti MD. Dr. Limpisvasti presented an alarming statistic of youth baseball players. Approximately 94% of skeletally immature baseball players (under 16 years of age) will demonstrate growth plate irritation on X-Ray. In reality the shaft of the humerus is rotating on the proximal growth plate. This leads to a structural limitation into internal rotation when the growth plate closes. In most cases this is due to poor body mechanics, poor thrunk/ hip / scapular stability, overuse and/or throwing breaking ball pitches before age 14. Read more