Request Appointment
Submit Health Question
Office Hours
It’s that time of year again and everybody is headed outside to play!
Seeing our kids excel at sports and stay active is exciting, but the same time we want to avoid injuries to our kids. Children’s bodies, while often very resilient, are prone to injury with strenuous sports. With a bit of knowledge and care, we can prevent life-long pain into adulthood.
So how can we protect against overuse injuries?
Here are a few suggestions for pitching and throwing:
Overuse injuries—especially those related to the elbow ligament (UCL) and shoulder—are preventable. Some tips to keep you in the game throughout your life include:
- Warm up properly by stretching, running, and easy, gradual throwing
- Rotate playing other positions besides pitcher
- Concentrate on age-appropriate pitching
- Adhere to pitch count guidelines, such as those established by Little League Baseball (See tables below)
- Avoid pitching on multiple teams with overlapping seasons
- Don’t pitch with elbow or shoulder pain, if the pain persists, see a doctor
- Don’t pitch on consecutive days
- Don’t play year-round
- Never use a radar gun
- Communicate regularly about how your arm is feeling and if there is pain
- Develop skills that are age appropriate
- Emphasize control, accuracy, and good mechanics
- Master the fastball first and the change-up second, before considering breaking pitches
- Speak with a sports medicine professional or athletic trainer if you have any concerns about baseball injuries or baseball injury prevention strategies
Contact us today for a customized evaluation of your child’s sport and spine potential
Maximum Pitch Counts
| Age | Pitches/Game |
| 7-8 | 50 |
| 9-10 | 75 |
| 11-12 | 85 |
| 13-16 | 95 |
| 17-18 | 105 |
Source: Little League Baseball
Rest Periods Required
| Ages 14 and under | Ages 15-18 | Required # ofRest Pitches |
| 66+ | 76+ | 4 calendar days |
| 51-65 | 61-75 | 3 calendar days |
| 36-50 | 46-60 | 2 calendar days |
| 21-35 | 31-45 | 1 calendar day |
| 1-20 | 1-30 | None |
Source: Little League Baseball
Age Recommended for Various Pitches
| Pitch | Age |
| Fastball | 8±2 |
| Slider | 16±2 |
| Change-up | 10±3 |
| Forkball | 16±2 |
| Curveball | 14±2 |
| Knuckleball | 15±3 |
| Screwball | 17±2 |
Source: From work by James R. Andrews, MD, and Glenn S. Fleisig, PhD
Email Us