Orthopedic surgeon Bruce Moseley, MD, of Houston-based Baylor College of Medicine argues that throwing year-round harms kid pitchers' shoulders and elbows in the long run.
Here are five things to know:
1. While MLB pitchers' pitch counts are closely monitored to prevent injury, physicians believe that doing the same for younger players whose bones and joints are still growing is more important.
2. Dr. Moseley says, "Treating throwing shoulders and elbows and making them pain free after they become painful can be a real challenge — not because we don't have good treatments, but because throwing is so demanding on the joints."
3. Little League Baseball and Softball organizations recently implemented limitations on the amount of throws pitchers can make every game and the number of days of rest each pitcher needs between pitching outings.
4. Dr. Moseley doesn't think that Little League's new regulations do enough to prevent injury, as most players play year-round on a number of different teams and throw more than the record shows. He says, "The body has the ability to repair normal wear and tear every day to maintain the health of the tissues, but if the wear and tear exceeds the body's ability to repair, there will start to be gradual, permanent damage to tissues."
5. Dr. Moseley cautions parents and physicians to take children's soreness and rest seriously so as to not cause permanent damage.
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