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Grab your peanuts and Cracker Jack, because baseball season is here! From little leagues to the professional level, baseball players are dusting off their cleats and taking the diamond. Regardless of age or level of play, many baseball players will suffer from shoulder pain this season, especially pitchers. In fact, if you are a pitcher, there is more than a 50% chance that you will experience shoulder pain at some point in your career.

In order to understand why, you must understand the anatomy of the shoulder. Like a hip joint, the shoulder is a ball-and-socket. Unlike the hip joint, the shoulder is not a tight fit, leaving it susceptible to injury. When performing a throwing motion, a tremendous amount of pressure is placed on the relatively-weak stabilization muscles in your shoulder.

Because the shoulder is made up of several bones, muscles, and tendons, there could be a wide range of reasons for pain. The most common shoulder injuries are damaged rotator cuffs and labrums, but other causes include biceps tendinitis, dislocation of the humerus, and fractures to the growth plates.

To help prevent shoulder injuries and keep pitchers healthy, Little League Baseball has implemented a strict pitch count that all players must abide by. The pitch count varies by age group and is as follows:

• 7-8 years old – 50 pitches per day
• 9-10 years old – 75 pitches per day
• 11-12 years old – 85 pitches per day
• 13-16 years old – 95 pitches per day
• 17-18 years old – 105 pitches per day

If you are suffering from shoulder pain, count on the experts at Orthopaedic Specialty Group to properly treat your injury. As the largest orthopedic practice in southern Connecticut, our team of licensed physicians will accurately diagnose your injury and provide a variety of treatment options to get you better as soon as possible.

To learn more about Orthopaedic Specialty Group or schedule an appointment with one of our qualified doctors, click here to visit our website or call us at (203) 337-2600.