As the summer weather rolls in, baseball season kicks into high gear. With over 3 million kids participating, baseball is one of the most popular sports in the United States. However, back on the field can also mean back in the doctor’s office with one of many baseball injuries.
Along with the steady growth in popularity, the demand to train harder, play longer and be faster drives the industry. Unfortunately, with the increase in competition, there is also an increasing number of baseball injuries. Some of these injuries happen on the field while others develop in conditioning workouts.
Common Baseball Injuries
If you have a youth athlete that is active in baseball, there are a number of common baseball injuries to look out for as the season jumps into action.
- ankle sprains
- overuse injuries including little league elbow and little league shoulder
- muscle strains
- rotator cuff injuries
- labral tears
- shoulder instability
Preventing Common Injuries
- Develop skills that are age appropriate
- Focus on conditioning exercises to strengthen the entire body
- Communicate with child and coaches about any pain they are experiencing
- Fuel properly with hydration and a nutritional plan rich in lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables
- warm up properly
- Rotate playing positions to avoid constant, repetitive motions that lead to overuse injuries
- Follow pitching guidelines proposed by Little League Baseball
- Identify and treat minor injuries early to prevent further damage from overuse
- Avoid pitching on consecutive days or playing the same position year round
Treatment of Baseball Injuries
The most important step of treating a baseball injury is appropriately diagnosing. If your child is experiencing pain whether from an acute injury or overuse issue, it may be beneficial to see an orthopaedic surgeon. Certain injuries can be treated with rest, ice and compression. Other types of injuries may need further medical intervention such as physical therapy, casting or in some cases, surgery.
Many acute injuries such as fractures or sprains happen in an instant and are unavoidable. However, overuse injuries can often be prevented and completely avoided.