Little League season is here, and with that comes elbow injuries. Over 100,000 kids end up in the ER each year from playing baseball. There’s even an injury called ‘Little League elbow’. It’s an overuse injury from repeated throwing, especially for pitchers.
Who is susceptible to Little League elbow?
Any kids and teens that play baseball are at risk of medial epicondyle apophysitis/Little League elbow. At this age, bones are still growing. Growth plates, found near the end of long bones, are weak and soft, and easy to injure. A severe injury to the growth plate can result in the elbow forever being prone to injury.
What causes medial epicondyle apophysitis?
There are several reasons that a child will start to feel pain. A common culprit is throwing the ball too hard. This can happen in general for any player or if your child moves to a field where the pitcher’s mound is further away than what they are used to.
Little League elbow can be caused by throwing form, including throwing different pitches such as a curveball, slider, or slurve. It can also be caused by simply throwing too many balls.
How can you help prevent an elbow injury?
Prevention is the best cure, so first of all, make sure that your child is not pitching too much. USA Baseball and MLB have put together pitching guidelines that you can find here. Also, make sure that your child is getting plenty of rest off-season. That means playing a sport that doesn’t require throwing.
Your child should always follow the instruction of their coach. When practicing at home, ensure you work with your child on their throwing techniques. Injuries can occur from releasing the ball too early, too late, or rotating their body too early in the throw. Ultimate baseball training has some great videos on pitch and hitting mechanics.
Get your child into the habit of warming up and stretching before playing. Also, ensure that they are taking in enough fluids. Hydration is important.
What are the symptoms of Little League elbow?
Look out for your child complaining of elbow pain or pain when throwing or picking up objects. Your child may also mention that they feel their pitching has got slow or worse. Here’s the challenging part. Your child may not want to tell you that they feel some discomfort because they may fear that you will make them stop playing. So watch out for signs of swelling or redness, or if your child has trouble straightening their elbow when they reach across the dinner table.
What’s the treatment if your child does get an elbow injury?
You may find yourself with an unhappy child on your hands, as rest is essential to healing. Icing will help, especially if there is swelling. Chiropractic adjustments can help to speed up recovery and promote healing. In fact, if the elbow has come displaced, rest alone will not be enough.
Dr. Crooker is ready to help your baseball players have a good season this spring. At the first sign of injury, give us a call on (610) 520-2490.