En Espaol (Spanish Version) 
Definition
Little League elbow is pain in the elbow joint due to repetitive throwing. This injury occurs in young baseball pitchers before puberty. The ligament attached to the inner side of the elbow begins to pull one of the growth plates away from the rest of the bone.
Throwing too many pitches or throwing the wrong type of pitches (eg, curves or sliders) puts great stress on a young pitcher's elbow ligaments. Because the bones are still growing, the growth plates of the bones are weak and susceptible to injury when the ligaments attached to them are stressed by overhand throwing.
The Elbow Joint
2008 Nucleus Medical Art, Inc.
Causes
Little League elbow is caused by repetitive overhand throwing in prepubescent baseball pitchers.
Specific throwing events that may lead to Little League elbow include:
- Throwing too hard too often
- Increasing the number of pitches you throw per week too quickly
- Throwing too many curves or sliders at a young age
- Changing to a league where the pitcher's mound is farther away from home plate or the mound is elevated
Risk Factors
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease, condition, or injury.Risk factors for Little League elbow include:
Age: 10-15 years oldSex: male (because more boys than girls are baseball pitchers)Baseball pitching, especially throwing curve balls or sliders Symptoms Symptoms include: Pain around the bony knob on the inner side of the elbowSwelling (possibly)Pain when throwing overhandSometimes, pain with gripping or carrying heavy objects Diagnosis The doctor will ask about: Your symptomsHow the injury occurredWhen the pain beganAny prior elbow injuries Your doctor will also examine your elbow for signs of ligament or bone damage, and to find the source of your pain. You may have an x-ray to look for damage to the bone, particularly in the area of the growth plate on the medial side of the elbow. TreatmentTreatment and recovery depend on the severity of the injury. Recovery time ranges from 6 weeks to 3 months. Treatment includes: RestDo not pitch or do any activities that cause elbow pain. Do not play sports, especially throwing sports, until the pain is gone.ColdApply ice or a cold pack to the outside of the elbow for 15-20 minutes, 4 times a day, for several days. Wrap the ice or cold pack in a towel. Do not apply the ice directly to your skin.MedicationMedications such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn), or acetaminophen (Tylenol) should be taken only under a doctor's orders. These may help relieve pain but could also mask symptoms. This could lead to the athlete trying to pitch, which would further damage the elbow. Pain in the elbow of a young pitcher must be checked out by a doctor, preferably an orthopaedic surgeon.Physical TherapyAfter the pain is gone, begin strengthening exercises for your arm muscles and range of motion exercises for your elbow as recommended by a health care professional.Gradual Return to PitchingBegin throwing motions and gradually progress to pitching as recommended by a health care professional. Your baseball coach must be aware of the treatment plan.SurgerySurgery may be needed to reattach the ligament and bony fragment if it is widely separated from the growth plate. This is rarely needed. Prevention Prevention strategies include:
Always warm up before pitching with light aerobic exercise, such as jogging or running in place.Always stretch your muscles slowly and gently before pitching.Always follow the pitching rules of your baseball league and do not play in two leagues at the same time. Limit your pitching to a maximum of 4-10 innings per week. While there is no concrete guideline, it is reasonable to aim for no more than 80-100 pitches per game, or 30-40 pitches per practiceMore specific guidelines are normally laid out by individual baseball leaguesLearn and practice the mechanics of good pitching techniques.Do not throw curve balls and sliders until high school when the growth plate in your elbow is fused with the bone. RESOURCES: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeonshttp://www.aaos.org American Academy of Pediatricshttp://www.aap.org American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicinehttp://www.sportsmed.org CANADIAN RESOURCES: About Kids Healthhttp://www.aboutkidshealth.ca Canadian Orthopaedic Associationhttp://www.coa-aco.org/ Canadian Orthopaedic Foundationhttp://www.canorth.org/ References: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org . American Academy of Pediatrics website. Available at: http://www.aap.org .
The National Athletic Trainers' Association website. Available at: http://www.nata.org/ . Professional Team Physicians, Inc. website. Available at: http://www.straws.com/ptp.htm . Last reviewed March 2008 by Robert E. Leach, MDPlease be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
CONTRIBUTE TO THIS STORY
