The hum of each pitch as it cuts through the crisp October air and the pop of the ball in the back of the catcher’s mitt are just a few of the hallmark sounds of post season baseball. Amidst all of the excitement however, what often isn’t heard are the conversations between clubhouse managers, pitchers, and medical staff. They spend hours weighing the benefits and risks of injury as pitch count and inning accumulation begin to take a toll.
Most Common Pitching Injuries
Fortunately for most of us, our career doesn’t depend on striking out Mookie Betts in game 7 of the World Series. In fact, the majority of athletes seen at a physical therapy clinic like Agile PT, are either weekend warriors or young athletes who aren’t pitching exclusively. The most common injuries seen in pitchers are shoulder and elbow injuries. Some of the most common shoulder injuries include rotator cuff strains and tears, bicep tears or tendonosis, and labral injuries. Some of the most common elbow injuries are forearm tendinosis or ligamentous injuries. The most popular being a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament which has been made famous by a major league pitcher called“Tommy John” surgery. The good news is that there is now evidence and a protocol for the recreational and young pitchers to prevent injury.
Warm up and Pre-Season Pitching:The first rule of thumb when the season begins is to start slow!
First, high school pitchers should begin with warm up toss from 90 feet (the distance between each base) followed by
3 sets of 15 throws at 60 feet (roughly the distance between the pitcher’s mound and home plate)
9 minute rest after the first and second set
end with 20 long toss throws at 90ft once again
Second, initial pitching effort should be at just 50% of their full effort progressing in pitch count, intensity, and distance daily up to 160ft for long toss and full speed by 15 foot increments each day
Thirdly, initial pitching work should be focused solely on fastballs
Lastly, offspeed pitches (curveball, slider, etc.) should be worked on only after a solid two weeks of pre-season training without incident
Pitch Count (Volume) and Injury Prevention: Baseball can be a highly repetitive sport with a long season. The stress on the body has to be able sustain the cumulative toll not through just a single game or series, but often an entire season. In a repetitive sport like baseball, the stress on the body tissue is not only present in the moment, but has a cumulative effect over the course of days, weeks, and years of play. Education and protection are two key components to injury prevention. A number of research studies have linked throwing volume to elbow and shoulder injuries. The USA Baseball Medical and Safety Advisory Committee have established pitch count limits by age for day, week, season, and year. The chart below details these recommendations for each age group.
Pitching Injury Prevention:Just because an athlete throws fast does not mean that their body tissues are also stronger and have adapted to this increased velocity. Particularly in younger athletes, an increase in pitching velocity has the potential to translate to a greater risk of injury. For this reason, The USA Baseball Medical and Safety Advisory Committee recommend that if an athlete is 3-5 standard deviations above his or her peers in either speed or distance than 2 years should be subtracted from his or her actual age when following the pitch count numbers above.
Soreness Rules While Following a Pitching Program:Following the above guidelines is a great way to prevent pitching injury. However, listening to one's body is equally important in assessing whether or not it is safe to proceed in pitch count or competition. The following soreness rules have demonstrated to help stop a mild injury from becoming a bigger problem.
If no soreness from pitching the previous day, advance the number of throws everyday or every other throwing day. Only if there's no soreness.
If sore during warm-up but soreness is gone within the first 15 throws, repeat the previous workout. If the shoulder or elbow becomes sore during this workout, stop and take 2 days off. Upon return to throwing, decrease the number of throws from the prior day.
If sore more than 1 hour after pitching, or the next day, take 1 day off and repeat the most recent throwing program workout.
If sore during warm-up and soreness continues through the first 15 throws, stop throwing and take 2 days off. Upon return to pitching, decrease the number of throws.
Specialize or Not to Specialize in Pitching: It can be tempting to fall into the mantra of “practice makes perfect” to help young athletes reach their potential but sometimes less is more. In fact, current evidence indicates that early specialization (before puberty) can lead to greater injury and burnout. In addition, specializing early fails to give young athletes motor skills from other sports that may crossover to benefit to their eventual sport of choice. The exact amount of time dedicated to one sport in order to deem it a specialization is not established. One study of high school athletes showed increased injury risk if training volume exceeded 16 hours/week. Another determined that specialization was a risk factor for injury and that athletes who participated in organized sports compared with free play time in a ratio of 2:1 had an increased risk of an overuse injury. The same study showed that if they participated in an organized sport more hours/week than their age in years their risk of overuse injury was greater.
Find a Good Physical Therapist for Your Pitching Injury Prevention!
Despite careful adherence to the safety protocols listed above, injuries can still occur from a repetitive sport like baseball. Finding a physical therapist who has the knowledge of the stage and tissues involved with your injury is key. They will collaborate with you to create a tailored training program to get you back on the field faster and better. Fortunately, most pitching injuries can be treated conservatively with a good training program from a physical therapist and activity modification. In conclusion, if you’re a casual baseball player, a young athlete, or even a college or professional pitcher, the Agile staff is here to help you with your pitching injury prevention. Sixty-eight percent of Agile PTs have board certifications versus the national average of 12.5%, giving Agile the uniquely qualified edge to get you back to the ballfield as soon and as safely as possible!
“I believe in a collaborative approach to physical therapy. A patient’s goals are only achieved when I am listening to a patient’s needs and they are taking an active role in the rehab process. I believe every patient and diagnosis should have a unique approach taking into account their specific goals, and this is both what I love about my job, and what I believe leads to positive long term outcomes for patients.” Interests include Baseball, Listening to music, Podcasting, Hiking, Running, Good conversation and time spent with friends.
Specialize or Not to Specialize in Pitching: It can be tempting to fall into the mantra of “practice makes perfect” to help young athletes reach their potential but sometimes less is more. In fact, current evidence indicates that early specialization (before puberty) can lead to greater injury and burnout. In addition, specializing early fails to give young athletes motor skills from other sports that may crossover to benefit to their eventual sport of choice. The exact amount of time dedicated to one sport in order to deem it a specialization is not established. One study of high school athletes showed increased injury risk if training volume exceeded 16 hours/week. Another determined that specialization was a risk factor for injury and that athletes who participated in organized sports compared with free play time in a ratio of 2:1 had an increased risk of an overuse injury. The same study showed that if they participated in an organized sport more hours/week than their age in years their risk of overuse injury was greater. 