By Jim Fanara, CSCS
Pitchers at every age group are getting hurt more often. The reasons for pitching injuries are well known. Years of research and clinical observations have demonstrated the link between pitching injuries and several key risk factors. The most important of these risk factors is pitching volume.
Numerous studies have shown that injured players pitch more months, games, innings and pitches per year. Multiple studies come to similar conclusions:
- Pitch more than 100 innings per year there is a3 times greater chance of injures (Fleisig AJSM’11
- Pitch more than 8 months per year there is a 5 times greater chance of injuries (Olsen AJSM ’06)
- Average more than 80 pitches per game there is a 4 times greater chance of injuries (Olsen AJSM ’06)
Pitching in showcases and travel leagues significantly correlates to increased injuries. (Olsen AJSM ’06; Register, Mahlick; Athletic Training ’12)
Pitchers that also catch have a 2.7 times greater chance of injuries. (Fleisig AJSM ’11)
Major league coaches and trainers understand that the number one injury risk to a pitcher is too much volume. That’s why pitch counts and limiting innings pitched has become such an important part of managing a pitching staff.
Youth and high school baseball league administrators have also realized that limiting pitching volume is important. Youth leagues now provide coaches with rules regarding pitching volume. Yet, injury rates are still high.
Pitch counts rules are great. However, the rules need to be followed by coaches. In a study published by Sports Health (Fazalare, Sports Health ’12):
- 27% of coaches admitted to not following rules
- 19% of coaches admitted pitching a child with a sore or fatigued arm.
Even if every coach followed pitch counts rules, playing in overlapping leagues and showcases adds volume. A particular coach may not be aware of all the innings that a player has logged. Also, every throw adds volume. That means that activities such as bullpen, warm-up throws and long toss programs all count towards accumulated volume.
Why is limiting pitching volume such an important factor in reducing injury risk? Pitching is not good for your arm and shoulder in the best of circumstances. Fatigue only makes things worse.
Fatigue alters neuromuscular control. Altering neuromuscular control changes the way the shoulder and elbow move thereby inhibiting normal joint mechanics. Given the high velocity and force achieved when pitching, maintaining proper joint mechanics is essential to reducing injury risk.
Take pitch counts and volume guidelines seriously. Limit overlapping leagues and showcases. Don’t pitch and catch.