Little League Elbow Causes & Risks

Causes

During this injury, the ligament attached to the inner side of the elbow begins to pull one of the growth plates away from the rest of the bone. Because the bones are still growing, the growth plates are weak and susceptible to injury. Certain types of throwing may lead to this condition, such as:

Throwing too hard and too often
Increasing the number of pitches per week too quickly
Throwing too many curves or sliders at a young age
Changing to a league where the pitcher's mound is farther away from home plate or the mound is elevated

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing Little League elbow. Tell your doctor if you or your child have any of these risk factors:

Age: 10-15 years old
Sex: male (more boys than girls are baseball pitchers)
Baseball pitching, especially throwing curve balls or sliders

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2024 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.