Baseball Injuries: Prevention Tips for Youth Catchers
Baseball Injuries
Spring training brings feverish excitement as the baseball season begins. But along with the renewed enthusiasm for the sport comes an increase in common baseball injuries. From upper body to lower extremities, no limb is safe when it comes to injury.
If you are a catcher or have a child that plays this position, there are several baseball injuries that can bring an abrupt stop to the season. The range of physical activity during a game or practice varies significantly for a catcher. Both the upper and lower body are put to work, creating strain on legs, knees, back, shoulders and elbows.
Common Injuries for Catchers
The position that a catcher takes during a baseball game puts an enormous amount of stress on the knees. Therefore, it is not surprising that catchers are prone to some common knee injuries. These injuries include but are not limited to: meniscus tears, muscle strains and tendonitis. The severity of these injuries varies greatly but often, catching them early can mean the difference between a short recovery and a season-ending issue.
The shoulder is a very complex joint. Therefore, it is no surprise that there are a number of baseball injuries that can occur for a catcher. Some of the most common types of shoulder injuries for a catcher include: superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) tear, bicep tendinitis, rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability and scapular rotation dysfunction.
With every throw a catcher makes, stress occurs to the shoulder and elbow. Overuse injuries are very common for pitchers and catchers alike due to the repetitive motion of the throwing arm throughout practices and games. Some of the most common baseball injuries resulting from throwing include: ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries, ulnar neuritis and valgus extension overload.
When it comes to baseball injuries, there are several ways to get hurt if you are a catcher. As you can see, most of the injuries listed above result from overuse. But there are a number of ways to prevent many of these baseball injuries.
Preventing Baseball Injuries in Catchers
- Follow guidelines limiting number of innings and number of throws per game for a catcher.
- Work with coaches on proper form and technique.
- Participate in proper conditioning exercises. The stress put on the body of a pitcher can be reduced with proper strengthening techniques. Be sure to work with your coaches and trainers to ensure the correct exercises.
- Overuse injuries can be prevented if you listen to your body and allow for proper recovery time. What might start out as a small injury can easily develop into something more serious if you do not allow time to heal.
Don’t let a baseball season slow you down this year. Take the proper steps to prevent an injury so you can get the most out of your year.
