baseball play

Elbow injuries are among the most common and most serious injuries baseball players suffer.

When the injury is to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) — the ligament on the inside of the elbow — it usually requires a procedure, commonly known as “Tommy John surgery,” to repair.

The minimum recovery period for returning from this surgery is nine months, though some athletes are never able to resume playing baseball.

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Fatigue from Pitching

Because overthrowing is the primary cause of elbow injuries, pitchers are more susceptible to them than are other baseball players.

Pitch types and pitch counts have been a focus of throwing injury prevention. The best approach is to treat each pitcher individually.

Rest and recovery periods in between pitching should be based on individual needs, and those needs should be determined by evaluating a player’s fatigue.

RELATED: Infographic: Thrower’s Ten Baseball Program for Baseball Pitchers

If… Then…
a player’s shoulder or elbow feels weak, he should not pitch that day, regardless of previous rest.
a particular pitch causes rapid fatigue, the player is not ready to throw that pitch.

Because young athletes’ bodies are still growing and their bones and supportive structures are constantly changing, so, too, are their mechanics.

Athletes who are not yet fully mature have more laxity in their joints and less muscle mass than older athletes. Because of this, adults may sustain injuries differently from how young athletes might.

Pain from “Little League Elbow”

The most important thing young athletes can do to avoid major injuries is not play through pain.

With one injury, epicondylitis — commonly known as “little league elbow” — tight, overworked muscles cause pain at the insertion in the elbow.

Once the muscles in the elbow are fatigued, they lose their stability, forcing the UCL to stabilize the entire elbow by itself. This extra stress can cause the UCL to tear.

RELATED: Arm Soreness: What Does It Mean for Baseball Players?

Preventing Elbow Injuries

Proper training is crucial to preventing elbow injuries.

All baseball players should engage in a sufficient warm up before practice and a proper cool down after. It’s extremely important that pitchers integrate post-throwing exercises into their cool down routines.

Coaches, strength and conditioning associates, and athletic trainers should work together year-round to see that baseball players are training properly at all times.

Above all, players must always remember to pay attention to their bodies’ signs of fatigue or pain. Doing so can keep them out of the dugout and on the field.

Customized Training at UPMC Sports Performance

UPMC Sports Performance can custom build a training and conditioning program for baseball players.

About Sports Medicine

An athletic lifestyle carries the potential for injury. Whether you’re an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, UPMC Sports Medicine can help. If you are looking to prevent, treat, or rehabilitate a sports injury, our multidisciplinary team of experts can help you get back into the game. If you are seeking to improve your athletic performance, we can work with you to meet your goals. We serve athletes and active people of all ages and experience levels. Our goal is to help you keep doing what you love. Visit our website to find a specialist near you.