Little League Elbow & Shoulder Syndrome
The two most common overuse injuries in youth baseball players are Little League elbow and Little League shoulder. These injuries typically occur in athletes between the ages of 9 and 16 as a result of overuse of the pitching arm, which can cause multiple small injuries to the elbow and shoulder. These injuries are most common in pitchers but also occur in catchers, infielders and outfielders, as well as in other athletes who do overhand activities like volleyball and tennis.
Little League elbow is the result of repetitive stress to the growth plate on the inside of the elbow. The growth plate is a small, soft part of a bone, located near both ends of long bones. The greatest stress occurs during the acceleration phase of throwing a baseball. Growing bones are easily injured because the growth plate is much weaker than the ligaments and muscles that attach to it. Once the growth plates fuse, athletes are more likely to injuries tendons and ligaments instead.
In the case of Little League shoulder, doctors are most concerned with the growth plate that sits high on the upper arm bone, near the shoulder. If that growth plate is inflamed or irritated, it usually means the child has little league shoulder.
Symptoms
Little League elbow usually begins gradually without a specific injury, but a distinct painful pop may occasionally be felt. It is not uncommon for young athletes to minimize their symptoms so they can continue playing. They may also experience aching, sharp pain and swelling on the inside of the elbow. Advanced stages of the disorder may include small fractures of the growth plate, bone chips, or early arthritis and bone spurs.
Symptoms of Little League Shoulder include shoulder pain while throwing, soreness that lasts a few days, slower and less controlled throws than normal, and swelling or tenderness near the shoulder.
Diagnosis
X-rays can help determine if a growth plate is still open and if it is widened. They can also show other bone problems, loose bone chips, and early arthritis. X-rays in patients with Little League elbow and shoulder may show nothing abnormal, but the athlete may still have pain.
Treatment
Treatment involves 3 stages: rest, rehab, and return to pitching.
Rest – At first, complete rest from all throwing activities is important. Ice and anti-inflammatory medication can help to relieve pain and swelling.
Rehab – Individualized physical therapy programs, including a range of motion and strength exercises, progressing to include strengthening of the forearm, upper arm, shoulder, back, and core, are recommended.
Return to pitching – Players can return to throwing when they are pain-free and have full range of motion and strength. They should progress gradually from non-throwing positions (like designated hitter), through less throwing positions (like first and second base), to full effort throwing positions. A return to pitching program, which outlines a progression of the number and distance of throws, should be considered for these young pitchers.
Most cases of Little League elbow clear up with rest and conservative management. However, the timeline for recovery is different for every athlete.
Prevention
Little League elbow and shoulder can be prevented. Talking to a child’s pitching coach about the way they throw, where they release the ball, and how they position their arm and wrist can help improve technique and protect them from pain.
Year-round fitness conditioning is important as well, along with resistance training, including arm, shoulder, back, trunk, and hip strengthening, and aerobic conditioning. In addition, baseball players need a period of “active rest” where they don’t throw but are able to play other sports. This rest period should last 3 to 6 months to give the body time to rest and recover.
Pitching Guidelines
Pitch counts are necessary at all levels of baseball and important for all young pitchers, parents and coaches to be familiar with.
| League Age | Pitches/Day |
|---|---|
| 7 – 8 | 50 |
| 9 – 10 | 75 |
| 11 – 12 | 85 |
| 13 – 16 | 95 |
| 17 – 18 | 105 |
Young pitchers need to work first on control (getting the ball in the strike zone), then command (being able to place the pitch in certain areas of the strike zone), and increasing pitch speed. They also need to avoid other high-demand throwing positions and should also rest from pitching for 24 to 48 hours after an outing, including backyard practice. Athletes in every sport should listen to their bodies carefully and avoid playing through pain.