Baseball and Softball Injuries

Baseball is truly America’s pastime. More than 400 million Americans participate in baseball and softball leagues each year. Players range in age from 5 to 95. There are leagues in the warmer climates for softball players over the age of 80 and senior baseball leagues that have many 50- and 60-year-olds playing. Given these sports immense popularity and the wide athletic range of its participants, it is only reasonable to think that many many injuries occur, most of which can be prevented.

What are some of the most common baseball and softball injuries? Here’s some need-to-know information for coaches, parents and players.

Excessive Pitching

Many injuries occur from excessive pitching. These can be prevented if players and coaches follow these safety guidelines.

To decrease shoulder and elbow problems from excessive pitching:

• Follow the guidelines about the number of innings pitched as specified by the individual’s baseball/softball league (maximum of 4-10 innings per week) not by the number of teams played on.
• While there are no concrete guidelines for the number of pitches allowed, a reasonable approach would be to count the number of pitches thrown and use 80-100 pitches as a maximum in a game and 30-40 pitches in a practice.
• Any persistent pain should disqualify a child from playing until pain subsides.

Breakaway Bases

Many injuries to players occur while sliding into bases. These mishaps and their resulting cost ( $2 billion in medical costs each year in the United States) could be significantly lowered by installing breakaway bases on playing fields.

To prevent sliding injuries, Saint Vincent Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeon urge all communities to install breakaway bases on their playing fields. A breakaway base is snapped onto grommets attached to an anchored rubber mat which hold it in place during normal play. When a runner slides into the base, it can be dislodged to avoid direct contact injury. During normal base running the breakaway base is stable and will not detach.

The traditional stationary base, bolted to a metal post and sunk into the ground, becomes a rigid obstacle for an athlete to encounter while sliding and often results in injury.

Protective Gear

Protective equipment is one of the most important factors to minimize the risk of injury in baseball and softball. Here are some safety tips to prevent injuries:

• Your equipment must fit properly and be worn correctly.
• Wear an approved batting helmet at the plate, when waiting your turn to bat and when running the bases.
• Facial protection devices that are attached to batting helmets are available in some youth leagues. These devices can help reduce the risk of a serious facial injury if hit by a ball.
• The catcher must always use a catcher’s mitt. If you play another position, ask your coach about specific size requirements.
• Catchers should always wear a helmet, face mask, throat guard, long-model, chest protector and shin guards.
• All male players regardless of position should wear a protective supporter.
• Most youth leagues prohibit the use of shoes with steel spikes. If you wear cleated shoes and metal is not permitted, you should wear molded, cleated shoes.
• Inspect the playing field for holes, glass, rocks and other debris.

Youth Concerns

Young athletes are not small adults. Their bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments are still growing, which makes them more susceptible to injury.

• Growth plates—the areas of developing cartilage where bone growth occurs in youngsters are weaker than the nearby ligaments and tendons. What is often a bruise or sprain in an adult can be a potentially serious growth plate injury in a young athlete.
• Young players of the same age can differ greatly in size and physical maturity. Some youngsters may be physically less mature than their peers and try to perform at levels for which they are not ready.
• Injuries among young players fall into two categories: overuse injuries and acute injuries. Both include soft tissue and bone injuries.
• Acute injuries are caused by sudden trauma and include contusions (bruises), sprains and strains and fractures.
• Overuse injuries are brought on by repetitive trauma and/or improper mechanics. The most common injury in baseball and softball for youth players would be an elbow problem call “Little League Elbow.” This condition is associated with throwing too much and also throwing “curve balls” before the player physically develops.

High School Player Concerns

Weather can be tough on high school baseball and softball players in the northern United States. The season is often compacted into the months of late April and May because of snow, rain and cold weather. Player will often play on consecutive days near the end of the season in order to complete the schedule before playoffs. With the weather and small roster sizes, players risk developing overuse injuries and must properly condition to prevent such conditions.

Weekend Warriors

Most weekend warriors are too busy to properly condition for competitive sports. What’s the best recommendation for this group? Following a general fitness and conditioning program year round. Start the season slow and build up your activity level as the season progresses. Use common sense and check with a Saint Vincent Sports Medicine specialist or your physician if you are having problems associated with athletic competition.

Baseball/Softball Facts

• Played during the spring and summer months in the Erie area.
• Cold weather can be a factor in the early spring. Heat problems can occur in the summer during tournament weekends especially for the weekend warrior who may also be consuming alcohol.
• Speed and strength are the major components for most players. Muscular endurance is especially important for pitchers. Hand-eye coordination can be developed through practice. Visual acuity for batters is important.
• The most prevalent non-traumatic injury is overuse. Proper conditioning and pitch limitation are important. Developmental stretching during cool down can also help prevent these injuries.
• Traumatic injuries usually occur during base running. Runners will collide with defensive players from time to time. The most common place would be at 2 nd base and home plate.
• As stated previously, players under the age of 12 should not throw curve balls and should also have limitations on the amount of pitches that they throw.

Related Links

How to begin a weight training program
Overuse injuries
Pre-participation Physical Exam
Rotator cuff injuries
Sport Safety for Children
Heat Illness
Teen Athletes and Performance Enhancing Drugs
Nutrition and Hydration
Stretching Guidelines

With their focus on PPT – Performance, Prevention and Treatment -- the specialists at Saint Vincent Sports Medicine can help you get back in the game after a baseball or softball injury. Call them today at 814-866-3466.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.