Youth Arm Injuries a Growing Concern
Many youth, from 8 to 14 years old, are sidelined each year from either throwing too many pitches or throwing breaking balls at too young of an age. As a result, greater injury prevention measures are being taken.
Overuse throwing injuries are a concern amongst doctors and youth baseball organizations. The number of pitches thrown in a game or over the course of a week is the primary concern. Little League, Inc. has implemented rules that limit the number of pitches a pitcher can throw during a game depending upon the age of the athlete. It is uncertain as to whether breaking pitches can cause additional harm. Although breaking pitches are not currently banned by Little League, Inc., they are discouraged in young athletes.
“The majority of baseball injuries we see at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics are overuse injuries,” says Dr. Rod S. Kraft, sports medicine specialist at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics. “Even though the new rules with pitch counts help to limit those, it is important to follow precautions.”
Signs to look for:
- Complaint of pain
- Disinterest in pitching and throwing
- Change in throwing form
- Tenderness and swelling in the injured area
To treat a throwing injury, options include:
- Resting a player’s arm, especially for throwing
- Using ice to reduce soreness and inflammation
- Visiting an expert at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics if symptoms persist.
Should you suffer an unfortunate injury to the hand, contact the hand and wrist surgeons at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics to take the first step toward pain relief by calling (877) 666-6080.