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Shoulder and elbow injuries are common in baseball players of all ages, however this is increasingly common as youth players become more specialized and more competitive at earlier ages. Additionally, players may not have access to the same level of training that they usually would due
By Daniel Johnson, PT, DPT
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shoulder and elbow injuries can occur in the beginning of a season due to inadequate preparation during pre-season training. More often, however, injuries occur later in the season simply due to too much throwing without enough rest. The most common throwing related injuries are muscle strains, biceps tendinopathies and labral tears of the shoulder, and ligament sprains or tears of the elbow (think Tommy John surgery). Increased injury risk in baseball players is associated with increased throwing volume, not enough rest, increased pitching velocity, poor throwing mechanics and poor conditioning. Your patients can reduce their injury risk by keeping these general guidelines in mind.¹ Participate in an off-season training regimen: this may include cardiovascular conditioning, mobility training, core strengthening, and weight/resistance training with a focus on the musculature involved in throwing. Heavy weight training should be avoided in the upper extremities however, leaving the heavier weights for the legs.² If your patients are participating in a fall or winter baseball league, adequate time off from throwing between seasons is crucial to allow for the tendons, ligaments and muscles of the arm to fully recover. A minimum of 4 months off from throwing per year is recommended for youth players, with 2-3 of those months being consecutive (MLB.
Sources: 1 ASMI.org 2 www.mlb.com/pitch-smart/pitching-guidelines/ages-13-14 3 MikeReinold. and Elbow Injuries Among US High School Baseball Players, 2005-2006 Through 2014-2015. Retrie Shoulder_and_Elbow_Injuries_Among_US_High_Scho
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