It is very common for children to sprain or strain a ligament or muscle while playing sports and doing other activities. For minor injuries you can treat your child at home with ibuprofen and R.I.C.E.
- REST the affected body part
- ICE down the affected area to decrease swelling (so it will heal faster) by using an ice pack every few hours for ten to fifteen minutes or as tolerated. This should be done as soon as possible after the injury. You can also place crush ice in a plastic bag or wrapped in a towel if you don't have an ice pack.
- COMPRESS the affected area by wrapping it in an ace wrap or elastic bandage
- ELEVATE the affected area
If your child is unable to use or bear weight on the area that is injured or if he isn't improving in a few days, then he should be evaluated by your doctor. Once the injury is starting to improve it is important to slowly return to usual activities.
Elbow injuries are common in adolescents ball players. Overhand throwing subjects children who have immature skeletal systems to a lot of stressful forces that can cause injuries. Children with elbow injuries from pitching will usually complain of pain or soreness on the inside part of their elbow. They may also complain of stiffness, and with the pain, this may limit their performance while playing ball. To prevent injuries, you should watch and limit how much they are pitching, and encourage them to warm up and stretch before pitching. It is important to also limit the age at which they learn new pitches, since some pitches, such as the screwball, put immature elbows at more risk for injury than others.
Reference: Whiteside, Andrews and Fleisig. How many pitches should I allow my child to throw? The Physician and Sportsmedicine. 1999; 27(6): 87-92, 102.
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Amount of pitching
|
| Age |
Max Pitches/Game |
Max Pitches/Week |
| 8-10 |
52 +/-15 |
2 +/- 0.6 |
| 11-12 |
68 +/-18 |
2 +/- 0.6 |
| 13-14 |
76 +/-16 |
2 +/- 0.4 |
| 15-16 |
91 +/-16 |
2 +/- 0.6 |
| 17-18 |
106 +/-16 |
2 +/- 0.6 |
|
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Minimum age for learning pitches
|
| Age |
Pitch |
| 6-10 |
Fastball |
| 7-13 |
Change-up |
| 12-16 |
Curveball |
| 12-18 |
Knuckleball |
| 14-18 |
Slider |
| 14-18 |
Forkball |
| 15-19 |
Screwball |
|
