For many Little League baseball players, there is nothing more rewarding than striking out the opponent. Unfortunately, Little League pitchers between the ages of 10-15, especially those who favor throwing curve balls and/or sliders, are at risk of developing a disorder known as little league elbow.
Cause of Little League Elbow
Little League elbow is a disorder caused by injuries to a group of soft cartilage cells known as the growth plate. The growth plate is in the elbow area, between the upper arm bone (humerus) and the bottom arm bone (ulna). The growth plate is not fully developed in children, so continued tightness, combined with repetitious movement, such as pitching, weakens the cartilage and causes it to tear away from the ulna.
Symptoms of Little League Elbow
The most common symptom of Little League elbow is pain that extends between the elbow and wrist, on the same side as your little finger. Although the symptoms may vary from person to person, some of the symptoms may include:
Treating the Injury
The type of treatment and the amount of time for recovery depend on the severity of the injuries. The most common forms of treatment for Little League elbow include:
There are several steps your child can take to reduce the risk of developing Little League elbow, including warm-up exercises and stretching before playing. It is important to develop a good technique that prevents excess stress on the elbow and wrist, such as following the pitching limits per game and avoiding pitching curve balls and/or sliders. A sports trainer or sports medicine physician can often suggest various techniques that may help to reduce stress on the growth plate.
To learn more about sports medicine, contact a doctor like Dr. Lisa M. Schoene.
Share1 June 2015
As a child, I used to spend my days roaming through the woods. I climbed trees, smelled the flowers, and laid in the grass looking at the clouds. My love for nature continued through my teen years, but when I turned 23, I began to sneeze whenever I left my home. I could no longer enjoy my outdoor hikes and I started taking antihistamines so I could at least open my windows on warm days. My allergies got worse though and I met with an allergist who completed a variety of skin tests. I started receiving allergy shots and my allergist taught me about natural cleaning processes and sinus rinses. The injections and natural treatments improved my quality of life greatly. Even if you do not want to start allergy injections, you have a variety of options that can lessen your symptoms, and you should learn what these options are.