Twin Cities Orthopedics physicians provide tips to prevent youth throwing injuries.
The crack of the bat, smell of the leather mitt and running of the bases are a few of the things players love about baseball and softball. More than 33 million Americans play organized baseball and softball each year, with nearly 6 million of these players being children from 5 to 14 years old. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2003 more than 200,000 of these kids were treated in hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and hospital emergency rooms for baseball-related injuries. That is why the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends that children use caution when partaking in youth baseball, particularly year-round.
“I continue to see increasing numbers of injuries related to youth baseball. I attribute this to the steady progression toward year-round participation and the addition of spring and fall leagues. The drive to compete can lead to overuse and result in minor pain or less commonly to major injuries,” explained Frank Norberg, MD, orthopedic surgeon specializing in the treatment of shoulder and sports medicine injuries. “Children involved in overhead hitting and throwing sports should have a break from these activities for 2-3 months out of the year. It benefits kids to cross-train and change sports throughout the year to avoid overuse injuries and help with balanced physical development. While pitch counts can help avoid overuse, it is more important to make sure players are not throwing with pain. Persistent pain with throwing is a sign of muscle, ligament or bone injury and should be evaluated by a medical professional.”
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers the following tips to help keep your child off the injured list:
- Always take time to warm up and stretch before and after play. Research studies have shown that cold muscles are more prone to injury.
- If a child is pitching, he should concentrate on stretching his arm and back muscles.
- If a child is catching, the focus should be on the legs and back.
- Children should not be encouraged to play through pain. It is important that they take breaks if tired.
- Limit the number of teams your child is playing on in one season. Kids who play on more than one team are especially at risk for overuse injuries.
- Equipment should fi t each player properly and be worn correctly.
- A batting helmet should be worn at the plate, when waiting a turn at bat and when running bases.
- Facial protection devices that are attached to batting helmets should be worn by children, when available. These devices can help reduce the risk of a serious facial injury if you get hit by a ball.
- Players should wear molded baseball shoes with cleats that fit comfortably.
- Children need to wear the appropriate mitt in each position.
- Catchers should always wear a helmet, face mask, throat guard, long-model chest protector, protective supporter, a catcher’s mitt and shin guards.
- Inspect the playing field for holes, glass and other debris.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Supervising adults should be prepared for emergency situations and have a plan to reach medical personnel to treat injuries such as concussions, dislocations, elbow contusions, wrist or finger sprains, and fractures.
- To prevent sliding injuries, install breakaway bases in the playing fields and an extra large first base to avoid the runner stepping on the first baseman’s foot.
While there is no concrete guideline for the number of pitches allowed, reasonable limits are 80 to 100 pitches in a game and 30 to 40 pitches in a single practice session, depending on the child’s skeletal maturity, muscle strength and pitching techniques.
Additional pitching recommendations for young baseball players include:
- 8-10 year olds should only throw from 37 to 67 pitches in approximately 1.4 to 2.6 games per week.
- 11-12 year olds should only throw from 50 to 86 pitches in approximately 1.4 to 2.6 games per week.
- 13-14 year olds should only throw from 60 to 92 pitches in approximately 1.4 to 2.6 games per week.
- 15-16 year olds should only throw from 75 to 107 pitches in approximately 1.4 to 2.6 games per week.
- 17-18 year olds should only throw from 90 to 122 pitches in approximately 1.4 to 2.6 games per week.
