Baseball is America’s pastime. Thousands of athletes from the young to old participate in baseball every year. However, according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, more than 282,000 treated players were 18 years old or younger. Overuse injuries has become a sports epidemic.
Baseball injuries are usually minor, not requiring surgery. The most common baseball injuries include soft tissue injuries such as sprains and strains, cuts and contusions (bruises). These can occur while fielding or base running, or through direct contact with another player, bat or ball. The majority of baseball injuries occur from overuse and are located in the throwing elbow and/or shoulder.
Many baseball injuries can be prevented. Prior to sports participation, the athlete should undergo a pre-season physical examination. As most injuries are overuse in nature, it is important for the player, coach and parent to become knowledgeable about current throwing recommendations.
Maximum Pitch Counts
| Age | Pitches per Game |
|---|---|
| 7 – 8 | 50 |
| 9 – 10 | 75 |
| 11 – 12 | 85 |
| 13 – 16 | 95 |
| 17 – 18 | 105 |
Rest Day Recommendations
| Number of Pitches – Ages 14 and under | Recommended Days of Rest |
|---|---|
| 66 | 4 days |
| 51 – 65 | 3 days |
| 36 – 50 | 2 days |
| 21 – 35 | 1 Day |
| 1 – 20 | None |
| Number of Pitches – Ages 15 – 18 | Recommended Days of Rest |
|---|---|
| 76 | 4 days |
| 61 – 75 | 3 days |
| 46 – 60 | 2 days |
| 31 – 45 | 1 day |
| 1 – 30 | None |
Age Recommendations for Learning Various Pitches
| Pitch | Age |
|---|---|
| Fastball | 8 ± 2 years |
| Slider | 16 ± 2 years |
| Change-up | 10 ± 3 years |
| Forkball | 16 ± 2 years |
| Curveball | 14 ± 2 years |
| Knuckleball | 15 ± 3 years |
| Screwball | 17 ± 2 years |
Baseball injuries can be treated conservatively, and in some cases surgically. Most sprains, and strains can be treated with ice, rest, bracing, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and activity modification while healing. Some injuries, such as ligament injuries and certain fractures, may require surgical intervention by an orthopedist specializing in sports medicine.
The National Sports Medicine Institute is a full-service sports medicine and orthopedic clinic situated in Lansdowne, Virginia. The clinic services include state of the art sports injury evaluation and treatment by highly trained orthopedic sports medicine specialists. The clinic also offers coordinated state of the art diagnostic imaging and physical therapy services.
Article created by: Shannon L. Nicholson DNP, FNP
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