USA Baseball Safety & Advisory Committee Recommendations (’04)

1. A player who shows signs of pain or arm fatigue should be removed from the game. Parents should seek medical attention if pain is not resolved in 4 days.

2. Throwing from other positions, throwing during practice, and performing throwing drills are important for the development of technique and strength.

3. Pitchers should not throw breaking pitches until their bones have matured (13-15 y/o).

4. Pitchers should be discouraged from pitching with more than one team in a given season.

5. Pitchers should not compete more than 9 months in a given year. 

6. Pitchers should engage in year round physical conditioning with activities to improve endurance, strength, neuromuscular coordination, and flexibility.

Post-Pitching Recovery

(LL Pitch Count Regulation Guide)

• Perform a “cool down activity.” Spend five minutes on a post-game, movement-based, “dynamic flexibility program.”

• Designate one coach to review the pitcher’s performance. Keep things simple and to the point. Be sure to finish the conversation by emphasizing the positive.

• Have a few bags of ice available for pitchers to apply to their shoulders and elbows following a pitching outing when necessary.

• Do not allow pitchers to go home and re-create their game by throwing with “coach mom or dad.”

Pre-Season Throwing Development (Wilk)

2-3 Days/week, nonconsecutive days

      30 Feet Phase

Step 1: 2 sets, 25 throws

Step 2: 3 sets, 25 throws

      45 Feet Phase

Step 3: 2 sets, 25 throws

Step 4: 3 sets, 25 throws

       60 Feet Phase

Step 5: 2 sets, 25 throws

Step 6: 3 sets, 25 throws

       75 Feet Phase

Step 7: 2 sets, 25 throws

Step 8: 3 sets, 25 throws

MANAGEMENT OF THE ADOLESCENT THROWING ATHLETE

Developing Bony Structure

+
Extraordinary Demands

+
High Volume
+
Improper Pitch Type
+
Improper Pitching Mechanics
=
Risk for Injury

What Can Be Done to Prevent Youth Throwing Injuries?

·       Pitch Count Limitations

·       Pitch Type Education

·       Improve Mechanics

·       Supplemental Strengthening

·       Effective practice and throwing development

SUPPLEMENTAL STRENGTHENING

2-3 SETS OF 10-15 REPS, 2-3X/WEEK

External Rotation 0˚- Stand with elbow fixed at side and flexed 90 degrees and the arm across front of body. Rotate out with arm, keeping elbow at side.

External Rotation 90˚- Stand with shoulder abducted 90 degrees and elbow flexed 90 degrees. Keeping shoulder abducted, rotate the arm back, keeping elbow at 90 degrees. Return tubing and hand to start position.

D2 Flexion - Begin with arm out from of body at opposite hip and palm facing downward. Turn palm upward and keep arm straight while raising arm up and over the throwing shoulder. Turn palm down and reverse to take arm back to starting position.

Abduction -Stand with arm at side, elbow straight, and palm against side. Raise arm to the side, palm down, until arm reaches shoulder level.

Scaption - Stand with elbow straight and thumb up. Raise arm to shoulder level at 30 degree angle in front of body. Do not go above shoulder height.

Horiz. Abduction 90˚- Lie on table, face down, with throwing arm hanging straight to the floor, palm facing down. Raise arm out to side, parallel to floor.

Horiz. Abduction 100˚- Lie on table, face down, with throwing arm hanging straight to the floor, thumb rotated up (hitch hiker position). Raise arm out to the side slightly in front of shoulder, parallel to the floor.

Wrist Extension- Supporting the forearm and with palm facing downward, raise weight in hand as far as possible.

Wrist Flexion- Supporting the forearm and with palm facing upward, lower a weight in hand as far as possible, then curl it up as high as possible.

THROWING ARM FLEXIBILITY

3-5 Sets, Hold 20-30 Sec

Sleeper stretch- The athlete lays on the throwing side with arm flexed to 90°. The patient grabs the wrist/forearm and pushes the extremity towards the table into internal rotation.

Cross Body Stretch- with the elbow flexed to 90˚ and the arm at shoulder height, pull the throwing arm across the chest.

PROPER THROWING MECHANICS

Common Pitching Faults

Throwing arm injuries have proven to be more common with the following pitching faults:

1. Excessive shoulder external rotation.

2. “Open” stride direction.

3. Lack of Trunk separation.

*There are many potential causes (and corrections)  of the above “end result” pitching faults. Evaluation of the throwing mechanics by a qualified coach can improve performance and decrease undue stresses on the throwing arm.

RJohnson@ExcelSports-Shiner.com

361-594-2520