Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
New Study Says Curveball Doesn't Injure Young Pitchers
A new study just released shows that throwing curveballsdoes not injure young ball players, according to an article in The New York Times. Doctors have been warning young ball players not to throw curveballs since at least the 1950s, because their bones and joints were still growing. One orthopedic surgeon suggests that children shouldn’t throw curves until they are at least 14 years old, said the article.
According to two new studies, research teams in Connecticut and Alabama studied the forces used in the pitcher’s elbows. Both studies concluded that curveballs are actually less hard on elbows than fastballs and that they did not injure young players, according to the article.
Results of studies
The American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Ala., has produced research studies on sports injuries, including an earlier study done in 2006 of pitches which also found that curveballs were less stressful than fastballs.
The more recent study in Birmingham looked at 29 pitchers aged 9-15, according to the article published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine last year. The results of this newer study were similar to the 2006—that curves were less injurious to elbows to throw than fastballs.
Some orthopedic doctors are concerned that coaches and parents will interpret these findings as an excuse to start young pitchers throwing curveballs too early or too long, according to the article.
There are other reasons than curveballs that young pitchers acquire injuries:
- young pitchers who pitched more than eight months a year were risking injuries that might require surgery to correct
- young pitchers who threw more than 80 pitches a game were four times as likely to need surgery than those who threw less
The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) says there are an estimated 4.8 million children ages 5 to 14 each year who participate in baseball and softball. According to AAP, between 2-8% of the young ball players are injured each year.
One of the main problems doctors have seen with baseball injuries, other than being hit by a ball, is what is called "Little League elbow". The problem comes from throwing a baseball or softball too hard or for too long. The forces on the elbow can damage the elbow and even create chronic elbow pain, instability, or arthritis.
Recommendations by AAP for young pitchers:
- The Little League Baseball Incorporated limits pitchers to a maximum of 6 innings per week
- requires mandatory rest periods between pitching to avoid damaging the growing bones limits the number of pitches to 200 per week, or 90 pitches each outing
- preseason conditioning to strengthen the rotator cuff and shoulders stabilizing muscles Proper pitching techniques can prevent serious overuse throwing injuries
- allowing time early in the season to gradually build up the amount and intensity of throwing
Kiley Law Group, located in Andover and Boston , Massachusetts takes time when speaking with you about your case and works with you on a contingent basis so there are NO FEESunless our trained Massachusetts child injury lawyers wins your case. Call now for a FREE evaluation of your case – 1-888-208-1695.
