It’s no surprise that baseball pitchers are prone to a slew of injuries when you consider what a throwing motion entails. A pitch requires far more than an overhead arm motion—it’s also powered by the core, hips, back, and legs. With so many body parts involved, can you guess what pitching injury is the most common?
It’s difficult to say with absolute certainty what the most widespread pitching injury is, but some experts speculate that it’s an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) sprain—perhaps better known as the injury that often leads to “Tommy John” surgery.
The UCL is situated on the inside of the elbow and is comprised of three bands: the posterior (back), anterior (front), and transverse (across) bands. An important function of this ligament is to provide strength and stability to the elbow. A UCL can become stretched or torn as a result of frequent overhead motions, such as those performed by a pitcher. Some of the most common signs of a UCL injury in baseball players include:
- A loss of control in pitches
- A feeling of elbow instability or weakness
- Abnormal inner elbow pain when throwing
Other Common Pitching Injuries
Pitchers are vulnerable to several other orthopedic conditions, including:
- Rotator cuff injuries – A pinching or tearing of the group of four muscles that encapsulates the shoulder joint and coordinates its movement.
- Oblique muscle strain – A tear in the muscles that run from the ribs to the pelvis and play a key role in a pitcher’s throwing motion.
- Labral tear – A tear in the thick, fibrous piece of tissue (labrum) that is attached to the shoulder socket and helps keep the ball of the joint in place.
- Thrower’s elbow – An umbrella term that describes multiple different elbow injuries, including UCL damage, flexor tendonitis, and ulnar neuritis.
If you’re a parent, does the threat of these injuries mean you should ban your child from baseball? Of course not! Youth baseball organizations throughout the country have measures in place to help young players stay healthy and avoid overuse injuries while enjoying America’s pastime. For example, Little League Baseball limits how many pitches a child can throw during a game based on their age, and there are a required number of rest days a budding pitcher must take every week. Because of these precautions, most overuse injuries occur in adults and professional athletes.
An Advanced Approach to Sports Medicine
Tampa Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine is led by orthopedic sports medicine surgeon Dr. Daniel Murphy and sports medicine specialist Dr. Arnold Ramirez—two board-certified physicians who also serve on the medical staffs of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Yankees. Together with a team of talented sports medicine professionals, Dr. Murphy and Dr. Ramirez provide the latest breakthroughs in sports injury prevention and treatment to adolescent and adult athletes throughout the Tampa area.
Contact Tampa Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Group today to learn more about our sports medicine services or to schedule an appointment with a specialist on our team. Our orthopedic center is located in South Tampa on Howard Avenue and is a proud affiliate of Florida Medical Clinic.
