Pain in the shoulder and/or elbow is NOT normal for adolescent throwing athletes and is usually a sign that something is wrong. Why does the arm hurt, you ask? While the answer is occasionally complex, most commonly it’s quite simple: OVERUSE and IMBALANCE. Today, kids are playing baseball year-round, playing on multiple teams, and participating in showcases. This adds up and leads to overuse injuries. Parents and coaches can help reduce these injuries by communication, adherence to pitch counts, and ensuring adequate rest (http://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/baseball-injury-prevention.aspx#prevention). Muscle and motion balance also plays an important role in injury prevention. The shoulder and elbow are the last components of what we call the “kinetic chain” for throwing. Proper mechanics and core muscle strengthening are equally if not more
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