YOUTH BASEBALL ELBOW SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Adolescent athletes participating in overhead throwing sports are vulnerable to the same stresses and injuries as their adult counterparts. What makes the younger athlete unique is the rapid rate of growth experienced during this age and the effect the throwing motion has on the epiphyseal growth plates. The medial epicondyle apophysis is usually the last growth plate in the elbow to fully fuse, putting young pitchers at risk of injury due to the repetitive valgus stress associated with the pitching motion. In older athletes, injury to the ulnar collateral ligament is seen.

The term Youth Baseball Elbow (also known as Little Leaguer’s Elbow) is actually a non-specific diagnosis that includes a variety of injuries. The athlete may complain of general elbow pain, a loss of motion, and swelling. The pain experienced is usually aggravated during throwing activities and is resolved by a period of rest, although it often returns when throwing is continued.

The injury is caused by the excessive pulling of the flexor-pronator muscle group on the medial epicondylar apophysis during throwing. It involves the avulsion (or separation) of the growth plate from the more mature bone of the elbow. It is considered a traction injury.

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