What causes throwing injuries?
Typically, with the start of the spring season, there is an increase in throwing injuries or elbow problems. Every spring when the baseball season begins, we see a rise in elbow injuries among baseball players. These youngsters suffer from medial apophysitis, also known as Youth Pitching elbow or Little Leaguer which is a common elbow condition. The elbow joint consists of three bones, the upper arm bone or humerus and the two bones in the forearm, the radius and the ulna. Ligaments, muscles and tendons keep the elbow joint together. However, repetitive throwing in baseball creates an extremely strong pull on the ligaments and tendons of the elbow, causing pain on the inside of the elbow. When this condition gets aggravated due to repeated pulling that tears ligaments and tendons away from the bone, it is called Pitcher’s elbow and is a serious condition. This tearing can pull tiny bone fragments with it and uproot them, resulting in deformity or disruption of normal bone growth.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of Pitcher’s elbow are usually pain on the inside of the elbow, locking or catching in the elbow joint, and restricted range of movement. You need to immediately stop throwing if any of the above symptoms is observed.
How is Pitcher’s elbow treated?
Treatment consists of stopping the activity for few days, taking complete rest, applying ice to reduce swelling and refining the technique of throwing. If the problem is not treated, throwing injuries in the elbow can become complicated. Children respond well to non-surgical treatments mentioned above. However, continuing the activity of throwing can cause major complications and affect the child’s ability to participate in the sport.
What is the recovery time?
Recovery time usually depends on factors like the age of the athlete and the extent of injury. Early detection and modification of activity will enable the person to return to sport within a short span of time. However, if the athlete ignores the pain and other symptoms, it can cause more damage and take may months to recover or become permanent. Surgery becomes necessary in case of severe problems, particularly for boys older than 14 and girls older than 12. Based on the child’s injury, it may include bone grafting, reattaching a ligament back, or removing loose bone fragments.
How can the injury be prevented?
In order to avoid throwing injuries, one should limit each game to three or four innings. As per the general guideline on how many pitches a child between 8-10 year old can throw 75 times; 11 and 12-year-olds can throw 100 and 13 to 14-year-olds can throw 125 times per week.
Concerned about symptoms of a sports-related injury or throwing injury?
