OVERUSE INJURIES IN /SOFTBALL

AOSSM SPORTS TIPS

WHAT CAUSES OVERUSE Ⅲ Not pitching with elbow pain or Age Recommended for BASEBALL/SOFTBALL shoulder; If the pain persists, Learning Various Pitches see a doctor INJURIES? 8 ± 2 Ⅲ Not pitching on consecutive days Injuries in young athletes are on the 16 ± 2 rise, but elbow and shoulder injuries in Ⅲ Not playing year round Change-up 10 ± 3 children are on the verge of becoming Ⅲ Never using a radar gun 16 ± 2 an epidemic. Thousands of children are 14 ± 2 seen each year complaining of elbow Ⅲ Communicating regularly about 15 ± 3 or shoulder pain. Damage or tear to how an athlete’s arm is feeling and the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is if there is pain 17 ± 2 the most common injury suffered and Source: From work by James R. Andrews, Ⅲ Developing skills that are age MD, and Glenn S. Fleisig, PhD is often caused by throwing appropriate too much. This ligament is the main stabilizer of the elbow for the motions Ⅲ Emphasizing control, accuracy, and of pitching. When it becomes damaged, good mechanics in young pitchers HOW IS AN ELBOW OR it can be difficult to repair and SHOULDER INJURY Ⅲ Master the fastball first and the rehabilitate. change-up second, before considering DIAGNOSED? breaking pitches If a young athlete is throwing too hard, HOW CAN OVERUSE too much, too early, and without rest, BASEBALL/SOFTBALL Maximum Counts a serious elbow or shoulder injury INJURIES BE PREVENTED? may be on the horizon. If the athlete Age Pitches/Game complains of elbow or shoulder pain Overuse injuries are preventable, 7–8 50 the day after throwing, or movement especially those related to the UCL 9–10 75 of the joint is painful or restricted and shoulder. Some tips to keep an 11 –12 85 compared to the opposite side, see athlete in the game throughout their 13 –16 95 a physician familiar with youth sports life include: injuries immediately. An examination 17 –18 105 and radiographs should be done. Ⅲ Warming up properly by stretching, Source: Little League Baseball running, and easy, gradual throwing An MRI scan may also be helpful.

Ⅲ Rotating playing other positions besides Rest Periods Required Ages 7 –16 Ages 17 –18 Required Ⅲ Concentrating on age-appropriate Number of Number of Rest pitching. Nolan Ryan didn’t start Pitches Pit che s pitching until he was in high school 61+ 76+ 3 calendar Ⅲ Adhering to pitch guidelines, days such as those established by Little 41 –60 51 –75 2 calendar League Baseball (See tables) days 21 –40 26 –50 1 calendar Ⅲ Avoiding pitching on multiple teams day with overlapping seasons 1–20 1–25 No day of rest required Source: Little League Baseball

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL INJURIES HOW IS AN OVERUSE be necessary to correct a problem. Sports Tips are brought to you by the American Overuse and stress-related problems Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. They ELBOW OR SHOULDER provide general information only and are not can affect growing parts of bone, not INJURY TREATED? a substitute for your own good judgement or just the soft tissue (muscles, tendons, consultation with a physician. To order multiple The most obvious treatment for overuse and ligaments). If the condition is not copies of this fact sheet or learn more about treated, it could cause deformity of other orthopaedic sports medicine topics, please is rest, especially from the activity that visit www.sportsmed.org. created the injury in the first place. the limb and permanent disability. Ice is also used to reduce soreness and inflammation. Ibuprofen can be taken Expert Consultants to help with any pain. If symptoms Mary Lloyd Ireland, MD Copyright © 2009. American Orthopaedic persist, it is critical that a physician be James R. Andrews, MD Society for Sports Medicine. All rights reserved. contacted, especially if there is a lack Glenn S. Fleisig, PhD Multiple copy reproduction prohibited. of full-joint motion. Usually a simple “rest cure” approach will not be REFERENCES enough, because even though it allows Prevention and Emergency Management of Youth symptoms to subside, it also creates Baseball and Softball Injuries. American loss of muscle bulk, tone, flexibility, Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. 2005. and endurance. Once pain is gone Little League Baseball. http://www.littleleague.org/ and full motion is present, a throwing Assets/old_assets/media/pitchcount_faq_08.pdf rehabilitation program can start. Under American Sports Medicine Institute. www.asmi.org some circumstances, surgery may