Little League elbow

 A baseball pitcher creates a huge amount of force and torque at the shoulder and elbow. Throwing repetitively throughout a game, season, or year creates cumulative stress on the joints and the tissues surrounding them. When the number of throws is appropriate for the skeletal strength of the thrower, the pitcher recovers after throwing, and all is good. But if too many pitches are thrown, or there is not enough rest time between outings, it can cause an overuse injury. In adults, this stress at the elbow can cause an ulnar collateral ligament tear, or Tommy John injury, but in skeletally immature throwers the growing bones bear the brunt of the stress.

For a young player, overuse injury from throwing can cause stress at the growth plate of the elbow, commonly called Little League elbow. This occurs when the strong tendons and ligaments attached on the medial side (inside) of the elbow pull at the bone near the growth plate and cause a partial separation. If ignored, this can lead to an outright fracture at the growth plate. Players are most at risk between the ages of 8 – 15, or until the growth plates are fused at the end of puberty.

Signs that should not be ignored in a young pitcher or thrower:

·       Pain or swelling at the elbow

·       Feeling or hearing a “pop” at the elbow

·       Numbness or tingling down arm

·       Restricted range of motion

The best way to avoid these issues is to maintain a strict pitch count, and to avoid playing the same sport year-round. Pitch guidelines are specific for age, with counts for pitches per day, as well as number of rest days required. Beyond these guidelines, coaches should consider the athlete’s history, and work up slowly to the maximum allowed pitches, as well as ensuring good mechanics with throwing. And playing different sports through the year or taking several months off from throwing helps to limit the repetitive stresses on the body. 

No game or season is worth sacrificing a young athlete’s physical health and future joint health. Athletes should be taught to listen to their bodies, with open communication with coaches and parents if a player is experiencing pain. A short break from throwing is often the easiest fix for elbow pain. But if pain continues the elbow should be evaluated.

https://pitchinginbaseball.weebly.com/torques-and-forces.html

see https://www.mlb.com/pitch-smart/pitching-guidelines for specific pitching guidelines