from American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Baseball season is here again and here are
some sobering statistics involving young
baseball pitchers. A study presented to the
American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons concluded that nearly two-thirds
of parents said their child had suffered
upper extremity pain from pitching.
However, slightly more than one-half of
parents and caregivers were unaware of
safe pitching practices designed to prevent
overuse injuries. Those injuries, in addition
to causing pain, if not treated properly may
lead to arthritis, deformity and disability.
Between two and eight percent of young
pitchers will suffer an overuse injury. Safe
pitching guidelines for young players focus
on proper warm up exercises, maximum
play time and pitch counts, not playing on
multiple teams or on consecutive days.