Understanding the muscles, tendons, and ligaments are contracting, being pre-stretched, or are stabilizing the elbow joint in the five phases of a pitcher’s elasticity when throwing helps understand baseball shoulder and elbow injuries.
A pitcher is the most vulnerable baseball athlete on the diamond prone to an injury, because the repetitive stress on the shoulder and elbow, coupled with improper rest and recovery aggravates the probability.
Common pitcher arm injuries are Medial Epicondylitis (Pitcher’s Elbow, Elbow Tendonitis), rotator cuff tendonitis, labral tears, dead arm, bone chips, and ulnar collateral ligament (also know as Tommy John surgery).
Causes of Pitcher Arm Injuries
The most common reasons for baseball arm injuries are overload, overuse, lack of proper conditioning, and improper throwing mechanics.
- overload is unavoidable during an outing. So customizing a maximum pitch count per game is primary to preserve arm strength and stamina
- overuse without adequate recovery time or a good arm maintenance program (stretching, running, strengthening, throwing) between pitching sessions is insidious to the arm
- incomplete strength conditioning causes arm injuries; exercises for the legs and core muscles are minimally incorporated
- improper throwing mechanics. Awkward arm propulsion habituates unhealthy force and mechanics to aggravate the arm. The greater the force, the greater the injury
Pitching fatigue often habituates injurious mechanics because a pitcher often changes a throwing motion to compensate for loss of control, velocity, arm strength and hand speed. Generally pitcher arm injury symptoms are
- redness, discoloration, or internal bleeding in the area
- swelling, puffiness, stiffness, extreme tightness
- a burning sensation upon movement
- sharp pain versus a normal dull ache
- lack of grip strength
- loss of extension, flexion, or normal range of motion
Baseball is America’s favorite past-time but it is consequential to a pitcher’s arm. Not only is a pitcher more prone arm injuries, but also is susceptible to ankle and back complications too. Offense and batter is more recognized in baseball, but lets appreciate the pitcher and defense more often.
