Little League Elbow Injuries: Is Your Child at Risk?
Each spring, children look forward to the start of Little League Baseball. They break in a
new glove, start playing catch with Mom or Dad in the yard, and eventually join
teammates on the field with the help of volunteer coaches. Most Little Leaguers have
dreams of playing varsity baseball in high school, and maybe even college or the
professional leagues. Injury prevention is extremely important to the health and safety of
these young athletes.
Overuse elbow injuries are not uncommon in Little League players and can take months
to heal. In some circumstances, an injury to a player’s “throwing arm” will need surgical
treatment if not diagnosed early enough. A tremendous amount of force occurs in the
elbow during a long overhand throw or fast pitch. The greatest stress is placed on the
medial section, or inside of the elbow joint, during the acceleration phase of the throw. At
this point, the elbow is bent at a right angle, putting additional stress on the elbow as the
ball is hurled forward.
In a child age 8 to 13, the elbow anatomy is very different than that of an adult. The
bones are still open at growth centers allowing for separation of the bones if too much
force is placed on the joint. While this doesn’t mean that you should hang up your child’s
beloved baseball mitt, it does mean that you should have any signs of stress or injury
investigated by a health care provider. If a child who throws repetitively experiences
symptoms such as elbow pain during or after throwing, swelling or tenderness in the
elbow, or limited motion in the elbow, examination by a health care provider is
recommended. Remember to watch for decrease in throwing performance, as this is often
a sign that the young player’s elbow is becoming chronically injured.
Dr. Joseph Chandler, Director of Medical Services for the Atlanta Braves, was in
Cooperstown in May for a Symposium discussing these kinds of injuries. He surveyed
101 minor and major league pitchers to see what their youth base