All baseball pitchers are at risk of arm injuries in general and shoulder injuries in particular when they pick up a ball and fire pitch after pitch to home plate. Youth pitchers are even more vulnerable than adult pitchers because their bones, muscles, joints and tendons are still growing. Young pitchers can suffer serious injuries if posterior shoulder stiffness is ignored.
The Throwing Motion
When a pitcher throws a baseball, he goes through four different phases of the pitching motion. Those phases are the windup, the cocking of the shoulder, acceleration and deceleration. All of these phases can contribute to shoulder discomfort. The act of pitching places stress on the shoulder and that stress can lead to injuries. Discomfort and pain are the body's way of telling the pitcher that something is wrong. Because all pitchers are vulnerable, it is vital to let Little League pitchers know that they must tell their parents and coaches the instant they feel pain.
Little Leaguer's Shoulder
When the youth pitcher feels pain or discomfort near the back of the shoulder during the throwing process, this can be the result of an injury to the growth plate. The growth plate remains open until the pitcher reaches maturity and placing it under too much stress can result in a fracture of this vulnerable area. The fracture is referred to as Little Leaguer's shoulder, according to Drs. Champ Baker and Andrew Ayers of the Hughston Clinic, based in Columbus, Georgia.
Treatment
If a fractured growth plate is diagnosed, the youngster must stop throwing for at least three months. During that process, physicians can check the shoulder to see that it is healing properly, and if it is, light throwing can begin after three months. However, if the shoulder does not respond to rest, surgery might be necessary.
Prevention
Avoiding shoulder injuries in youth baseball is difficult. Some youngsters may be more vulnerable than others. However, in order to lessen the odds of a youngster feeling pain and stiffness and then developing a significant injury, pitch counts must be followed. According to the American Sports Medicine Institute, 9- and 10-year-old pitchers should throw no more than 50 pitches per game and 75 pitches per week. Pitchers who are 11- and 12-years-old should be limited to 75 pitches per game and 100 pitches per week, while 13- and 14-year-old pitchers should be limited to 75 pitches per game and 125 pitches per week. While ensuring pitchers don't exceed recommended pitch counts can't guarantee that a youngster won't get injured, it will improve his chances for staying healthy during a baseball season.
Member Comments