[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/02\/prevent-youth-baseball-injuries\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/02\/prevent-youth-baseball-injuries\/","headline":"Causes of Youth Baseball Injuries and How to Prevent Them","name":"Causes of Youth Baseball Injuries and How to Prevent Them","description":"The snow may be flying outside, but the crack of the bat and pop of the glove can still be heard at indoor baseball training facilities, as players start preparing for the upcoming baseball season. Each year, nearly 300,000 young athletes are injured playing baseball. Learning more about these injuries and how to prevent them […]","datePublished":"2014-02-21","dateModified":"2021-09-23","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","name":"Sports Medicine","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/sports-medicine\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/young-baseball-pitcher.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/young-baseball-pitcher.png","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/02\/prevent-youth-baseball-injuries\/","about":["Pediatrics","Sports Medicine"],"wordCount":286,"keywords":["athlete","baseball","baseball injuries","conditioning","rotator cuff","shoulder injury","sports medicine","tendonitis","youth baseball"],"articleBody":"The snow may be flying outside, but the crack of the bat and pop of the glove can still be heard at indoor baseball training facilities, as players start preparing for the upcoming baseball season. Each year, nearly 300,000 young athletes are injured playing baseball. Learning more about these injuries and how to prevent them will help players avoid the disabled list.Common Youth Baseball InjuriesBaseball players most often injure their shoulders or elbows. Shoulder-related injuries range from tendonitis of the muscles that keep the joint (the rotator cuff) stable to cartilage tears within the joint itself.Elbow problems include tendonitis of the muscles on top of or below the forearm and strains of the ligaments on the inside of the elbow.Causes of Baseball InjuriesThe most common causes of baseball-related injuries are:OveruseInadequate rest periodsPoor throwing mechanicsPoor flexibility and range of motionDecreased rotator cuff or scapular (shoulder) strengthDecreased wrist muscle strength and flexibilityDecreased hamstring flexibility and strengthPoor hip flexibilityPoor core strength and stabilityPreventing Baseball InjuriesTo prevent injuries, youth baseball players should:Warm up properly before throwing.Take part in preseason and in-season strength and conditioning programs.Avoid year-round playing to give the body a chance to rest and recover. Playing different sports helps ensure that the same muscles aren\u2019t used all the time.[pinterest_pin pin=”505880970616903839″]It’s important for athletes to talk with parents and coaches instead of playing through any pain. Pain may be due to an underlying condition, and continuing to play could result in injury. If pain persists, or if a young athlete plays year round without much rest, a consultation with a sports medicine specialist is recommended. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2014","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"02","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/\/02\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Causes of Youth Baseball Injuries and How to Prevent Them","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/02\/prevent-youth-baseball-injuries\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]