Throwing Injuries a Curve Ball
The arrival of spring brings with it the enjoyment of outdoor sports. Adults join after work softball leagues and kids play baseball as part of a team or in backyards. Overall, injury rates are low; however, as leagues have increased, there has been an increase in injuries. Significant injury may result from a directly-thrown or batted ball or collision with another player; however, overuse is the key factor in most injuries seen in the throwing athlete.
A winter of limited activity disrupted by sudden “back in the game” athleticism can be a shock to an adult’s throwing arm and lead to an overuse injury. For kids, with the push to specialize in one sport at a younger age and the proliferation of travel leagues and showcase teams, the prevalence of overuse injuries has increased significantly. Risk of shoulder or elbow injury for pitchers is 2.6 times greater than the risk for a position player. Growth plate injuries, often called “Little League elbow or shoulder,” are common and should be differentiated from soft tissue injuries. Some of the more common soft tissue injuries are shoulder tendinitis, rotator cuff tears, and labral tears.
Signs and symptoms of injury:
– Arm pain while throwing
– Decreased throwing speed
– Shoulder or elbow pain
– Arm fatigue or soreness that does not subside with rest
Common overuse injury statistics:
– Pitching more than 100 innings per year increases the risk of injury 3.5 times
– Playing the dual position of catcher and pitcher may double or triple a pitcher’s risk for injury
– Throwing arm fatigue makes pitchers 36 times more likely to be injured.
Prevention
As with most sports, spring training injury prevention starts with a proper warm up of stretching, running, and gradual throwing along with an overall conditioning program off the field. Baseball/softball overuse injury risk can be minimized by limiting pitch counts, developing proper throwing mechanics, ensuring adequate rest, and early evaluation and intervention.
Rehabilitation
For the baseball/softball player and other overhead throwing athletes, rehabilitation guided by a physical therapist may involve stretching, strengthening of the muscles around the shoulder, and manual therapy depending on the athlete’s specific limitations. To continue the progress made during therapy, a home strengthening program such as “Throwers Ten” is recommended. In order to finally return to sport, the athlete should complete an interval throwing program and be able to throw pain free.
If you or a family member with a persistent sports-related injury, schedule an assessment with a physical therapist at (877) 56-REHAB.