From the pros down to little league, injuries to the shoulder and elbow in baseball are all too common. These injuries can include inflammation of the tendons around the shoulder and elbow, weakening of the ligaments that hold the shoulder and elbow together, and stresses to the bone that cause small separations between bones. The later is the most common injury in prepubescent athletes.
Determining the injury’s cause is as important as diagnosis. Many injuries occur as a result of overuse, which can be caused by pitching too much or not allowing enough time for rest between pitch outings. In response, organized sports have made attempts to control the number of times an athlete pitches within a single week.
Currently in the state of Ohio, a little league pitcher is allowed to pitch a maximum of six innings a week. However, this attempt to control how much a pitcher throws does not take into account an athlete who participates in several leagues or throws several times at different positions, or a pitcher who throws a higher than normal number of balls in the six innings that he or she is allowed to pitch.
A more effective means of controlling the number of throws is through a pitch count. The Cleveland Clinic Sports Health staff recommends baseball players follow the pitch count given in the table below.
While pitch counts are one prevention area to target, pitch mechanics are another. Improper body positioning can lead to excessive force on the elbow and shoulder. Aligning an athlete’s body correctly will not only decrease the stress on a pitcher’s arm, but may increase performance or velocity. Analyzing a pitcher’s mechanics can assist in determining a potential cause of an injury and also prevent injuries from occurring.
Recommended Pitch Counts for Baseball Pitchers
|
Age
|
Number of Pitches per Game
|
Days of Rest
|
Games per Week
|
|
8-10
|
50
|
4
|
2
|
|
11-12
|
65
|
4
|
2
|
|
13-14
|
75
|
4
|
2
|
|
15-16
|
90
|
4
|
2
|
|
17 and up
|
100
|
4
|
2
|
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Tendonitis
This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 4/1/2006
