What Is Little League Shoulder?
Little League shoulder is an injury that young baseball players can develop through overusing their shoulder. It鈥檚 most common in children ages 10鈥14 who play pitcher or catcher regularly. It鈥檚 rare in softball players or other athletes.
Children have a growth plate at the top of their upper arm bone. The growth plate is weaker than bone because it is mostly cartilage until it naturally closes when children finish growing. In Little League shoulder, this cartilage becomes injured and causes pain with throwing.
Little League Shoulder vs. Thrower鈥檚 Shoulder
Both Little League shoulder and thrower鈥檚 shoulder are overuse injuries caused by throwing. However, Little League shoulder affects the growth plate specifically. Thrower鈥檚 shoulder refers to pain, weakness, and rotator cuff irritation from throwing. It typically occurs in older athletes who have finished growing.
Little League Shoulder Symptoms
The telltale sign of Little League shoulder is pain when throwing. The pain鈥檚 location is specific, affecting the side of the upper shoulder. How the pain feels varies. It can be achy, dull, or sharp.
Most children don鈥檛 have shoulder pain in their daily activities. In severe cases, some children might have pain when they reach overhead.
When to See a Doctor for Little League Shoulder
Your child should see their primary care provider if they have pain with throwing. Their provider may refer you to a pediatric sports medicine physician for further evaluation and treatment.
Your child may want to 鈥減ush through鈥 and continue throwing. This can make the injury worse. Getting treatment when the pain starts can lead to a quicker recovery.
Find a Pediatric Shoulder Specialist
Little League Shoulder Diagnosis
Your child鈥檚 diagnosis starts by talking about symptoms and medical history. The pediatric sports medicine physician asks several questions:
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Does anything make the pain better or worse?
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How long have they had pain?
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How often does your child throw or pitch?
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What position does your child play?
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Where is the pain located?
They will also examine your child鈥檚 shoulder to check their posture, strength, and range of motion. They may press on the shoulder directly over the growth plate to find out if it鈥檚 tender. Your child will also get an X-ray to look closely at their growth plate.
Little League Shoulder Treatment
The main treatment for Little League shoulder is rest. Typically, children need to stop throwing for at least four weeks. Avoiding pitching and warm-ups in the bullpen lets the growth plate heal.
Our pediatric sports medicine specialists also prescribe physical therapy during healing. Your child works with a skilled, specialized pediatric physical therapist. This therapist gives them exercises to help strengthen and stretch their shoulder while the growth plate heals.
Can You Hit With Little League Shoulder?
Children can practice batting while healing from Little League shoulder if they don鈥檛 have pain. They can also perform other activities such as swimming or playing basketball, as long as they鈥檙e pain-free.
Pediatric Sports Medicine Program
Our Pediatric Sports Medicine Program is centered around young athletes. We understand the high demands and pressures of competitive youth sports. Our team cares for all aspects of a young athlete's health.
Little League Shoulder Recovery Time
Children return for a follow-up visit after their four-week rest period. Their sports medicine physician checks for shoulder pain or tenderness. Most children don鈥檛 have any pain at this point.
They follow a structured return-to-throw plan. The plan involves keeping track of how many pitches your child throws. You do this over several weeks while your child slowly returns to normal volumes. This approach allows them to begin throwing gradually to prevent reinjury.
How to Prevent Little League Shoulder
Monitoring how much your child throws is crucial to preventing Little League shoulder. USA Baseball, Major League Baseball, and medical researchers have worked together to establish guidelines for pitchers age 7鈥22. The guide details recommended pitch count limits and rest time.
It鈥檚 important to include the time your child throws outside of baseball practice and games in their pitch count. Resting at least one to two days per week will help your child鈥檚 performance and lower their risk of Little League shoulder.
Pediatric Shoulder Pain and Injuries
Children typically experience two types of shoulder injuries: acute injuries and overuse injuries.
Acute injuries are sudden, traumatic injuries. Children may experience several types:
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Acromioclavicular (AC) joint sprains, affecting the joint where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade
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Collarbone fractures
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Shoulder contusions (bone bruises)
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Shoulder dislocations
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Shoulder muscle strains
Overuse injuries develop slowly from repetitive movements. Children commonly experience several types:
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Little League shoulder
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Shoulder impingement, when tendons swell and rub against the shoulder blade
Why Choose 91麻豆天美直播?
Our University Orthopaedic Services team includes dedicated pediatric sports medicine physicians and surgeons. We specialize in treating children with sports injuries and are experts in the latest leading-edge treatments.
Your child also works with pediatric-trained physical therapists. Our team includes therapists who specialize in throwing injuries, so your child gets targeted care for Little League shoulder.
With many locations from Salt Lake City to Provo, our pediatric clinics provide comprehensive care in convenient settings.
Make an Appointment
Call 801-587-7109 to request an appointment with a pediatric sports medicine specialist. We don鈥檛 require referrals, but some insurance plans do. We recommend checking with your insurance provider before you schedule your appointment.
