Baseball and pain in the elbow practically go hand in hand. From the now famous Tommy John surgery, in which one of your elbow ligaments is replaced by a tighter ligament from elsewhere in your body, to Little Leaguer's elbow in which elbow pain can recur for months, even years, in youth players. Elbow pain can mean a plethora of different things, but before you begin any advanced home treatment, see your primary care physician for a professional diagnosis.
Causes
Elbow injuries most commonly happen due to poor pitching mechanics. The amount of torque placed on your elbow and shoulder ligaments when you're throwing a ball is immense, even if your mechanics are perfect. If your mechanics are skewed in any way that pulls your arm down in an unnatural motion, your risk of injuring yourself and suffering from moderate to extreme pain inside your elbow increases significantly.
Injuries
Muscle pain inside the elbow can be a sign of any number of injuries, ranging in severity from mild to potentially career threatening. A strained muscle or moderately sprained ligament can feel just as painful as a severe sprain or even a ruptured ligament. In the case of Little Leaguer's elbow, the growth plate in the arm separates from the more mature bone in the elbow, causing recurring pain even after extended rest.
Treatment
The initial treatment for any inner-elbow pain from baseball should be the R.I.C.E. method. Rest the elbow for a minimum of 72 hours. Ice the elbow for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, every two to three hours. Don't apply the ice directly to the skin, rather, use a barrier of cloth between the two. Wrap the elbow with an elastic bandage or a cloth athletic bandage to compress the muscles and ligaments and provide additional support. Finally, elevate the elbow to a height higher than your heart. Continue this treatment for 72 hours or until you see your physician.
Prevention
Unlike other sports, baseball elbow injury prevention can't involve wrapping the joint with elastic bandages during play, as you won't be able to perform your normal duties if your elbow is at all limited in motion. The most effective form of elbow injury prevention in baseball is practicing proper throwing mechanics. While mechanics may vary from person to person based on their delivery, your specific mechanics need to be in line with your elbows natural range of motion at all times. Work with your coach and physician to ensure that your delivery keeps your injury risk to a minimum.
