The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that close to 5 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 years old play in baseball or softball leagues. Injuries and sports go hand in hand, and common baseball injuries for kids often stem from inadequate protection, a lack of pre-game stretching and repetitive motion. Pediatric baseball injuries can be prevented in part by implementing stretching exercises and adhering to safety regulations, especially concerning young pitchers.
Eye Injuries
Injuries to the eye are the top cause of baseball injuries to children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Most eye injuries involving the eye are caused by being hit by a baseball. Elementary and middle school-aged children have the highest risk of being hit in the eye by a baseball, reports the AAP. Batting helmets that include a clear face guard and eye goggles for outfielders help prevent this type of accident during baseball games and practices.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries, including muscle strains, pulled ligaments, bruising and minor cuts and scrapes are common injuries involving kids who play baseball and softball, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Pulled muscles often are the result of children not warming up before playing ball and sprained ankles occur most often when sliding into a base. The AAOS recommends young ball players begin practice with a warm-up routine that includes jumping jacks and jogging the bases, and suggests that baseball players under the age of 10 refrain from base sliding to avoid these common complaints.
Repetitive Stress Injuries
Young pitchers often suffer from repetitive stress injuries in their elbows and shoulders. Pain, inflammation and stress fractures can lead to interference of the growth plates near the joints, according to Chicago's Institute for Sports Medicine, a center affiliated with Children's Memorial Hospital. Overuse injuries of this kind can cause long-term problems with bone growth and development later in life if the growth plates are damaged. The USA Baseball Medical and Safety Advisory Committee has established rules regarding pitch counts for children to help prevent common elbow and shoulder problems. Depending on the child's age (between 9 and 15), recommendations range from 75 to 125 pitches thrown per week, with a specific number of days of rest between games.
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