Living Well With BCHC; Baseball Season is Here!
It’s that time of the year again! Time to dust off the mitt and cleats and head to the ball diamond. America’s past-time, baseball, is back. Many people have fond memories of their own playing days at the ball park, whether it be professional or even the local high school team, to watch the athletes compete in a game of skill and athleticism.
That also means that it is that time of the year again to remind young athletes, coaches and parents of the concerns with overuse injuries. Keep in mind that injuries at a young age can lead to complicating factors for a lifetime. It is the responsibility of the coaches, parents and athletes to be informed to help decrease the risk of elbow and shoulder injuries.
Little league baseball has teamed up with the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) to develop guidelines to help decrease the risk of injury. Even if your youth league doesn’t follow and qualify as an official Little League Baseball affiliate, these should be followed to help protect the young athletes. Pitch counts have been implemented including rest time following pitching. The following information is from www.stopsportsinjuries.org.
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 days have also been recommended based on number of pitches thrown.
| Ages 14 and Under | Ages 15-18 | Rest Period |
|---|---|---|
| 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
By following these guidelines, teaching appropriate body mechanics with pitching, and having open communication with the young athletes if they are experiencing any pain, we can work together to keep our athletes healthy. If your athlete does experience persistent pain, contact a healthcare professional to assist with getting them back on track.
Article written by Kelly Harrold, DPT.
Buchanan County Health Center
319 – 332 – 0850
www.bchealth.org