Baseball Injuries: Preventing Arm Injuries in Youth and College Athletes

Baseball can lead to arm injuries in young players, often due to the repeated throwing motion and physical stress on growing bodies.

Common Causes

• Overuse: throwing too much without enough rest
• Improper technique, which stresses the shoulder and elbow
• Inadequate warm-up before playing
• Lack of strength and flexibility in the shoulders and arms

Signs and Symptoms

• Shoulder pain, tenderness when lifting the arm, weakness
• Elbow pain on the inner side, swelling, instability
• Labral tears: deep shoulder pain, clicking or catching
• Little League elbow: pain, tenderness, swelling, reduced range of motion

When to See a Physical Therapist

• Pain that doesn't go away after a few days of rest
• Swelling or significant tenderness in the shoulder or elbow
• Decreased strength or range of motion
• Popping or snapping sensations in the joint

Overuse injuries like "Little League elbow" and "Little League shoulder" often need rest, physical therapy, and a gradual return to play to heal properly and prevent long-term problems.

For more on arm pain in throwing athletes, see our elbow and shoulder pages.