Definition

Little League elbow is pain in the elbow joint due to repetitive throwing. This injury occurs in young baseball pitchers before puberty.

The Elbow Joint

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Causes

This injury happens when the ligament attached to the inner side of the elbow starts to pull one of the growth plates away from the rest of the bone. Growth plates are weak and easily injured when a child's bones are still growing. Certain types of throwing may lead to this problem, 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 raised

Risk Factors

This problem is more common in boys who are 10 to 15 years of age. The risk is higher in those who are pitchers, especially those who throw curve balls or sliders.

Symptoms

Problems may be:

• Pain around the bony knob on the inner side of the elbow
• Swelling
• Pain when throwing overhand
• Pain with gripping or carrying heavy objects

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your child's symptoms and health history. You will also be asked about your child's activities. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on the elbow.

Images may be taken. This can be done with:

• X-ray
• MRI scan

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to ease pain and promote healing. Recovery time ranges from 6 weeks to 3 months.

Options are:

• Supportive care, such as resting the elbow and using cold compresses to ease swelling
• Medicines to ease pain and swelling
• Physical therapy to promote strength, flexibility, and range of motion

Some children may need surgery. This is not common.

Prevention

The risk of this problem may be lowered by:

• Following age-based safety guidelines for the number of games, innings, and pitches
• Not throwing curve balls or sliders until high school
• Warming up and stretching before activity
• Using proper pitching techniques