Champion Sports Training - Too Much Pitching

Participation in the sport of youth baseball is rapidly escalating. An estimated 9 million athletes (ages 6-17) join youth baseball teams in the United States each year. Accompanied by an increase in the number of travel teams, tournaments and year round training facilities the intensity and duration of sport participation has also risen in the recent past. The combination of an increased number of athletes with an increase in sport intensity and duration has produced an unfortunate climb in the incidence of shoulder and elbow injury.

A review of surgeries performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, AL revealed an increase in number of UCL Reconstruction Surgeries (a.k.a. Tommy John Surgery) performed from 4 performed in 1997 to 43 performed from January to September 2003. Study of this alarming increase by The American Sports Medicine Institute produced useful recommendations regarding risk factors and activity modification suggestions. Appropriate age to begin throwing certain pitches and pitch counts are included in those suggestions.

A comprehensive strength and conditioning program will also aid in making an athlete more resistant to these serious injuries. The complexity of the throwing motion presents many challenges in design of a program that will not only reduce the risk of injury but also enhance performance. A specially designed program for the throwing athlete should include elements addressing lower body stability and explosive strength, total body flexibility, core strength and control, activity specific conditioning activities and arm strength with special focus on rotator cuff and scapular strength and control.

Combining comprehensive strength and conditioning programming with sound activity modification/limitation guidelines will help keep where they need to be, on the field competing. For a copy of Dr. Andrews guidelines or for more information on strength and conditioning programs for the throwing athlete contact Champion Sports Training at 865-454-2876.