Things to look for at home as a parent with a Child in Baseball

🔴 Elbow or Shoulder Pain During or After Throwing

Pain in the elbow or shoulder, especially during or shortly after throwing, is not normal — even during growth spurts. This is the age range when overuse injuries like Little League Elbow (growth plate stress) or shoulder impingement begin to show up.

• What it could indicate:

  • Medial epicondyle apophysitis (Little League Elbow)

  • Labrum irritation or early signs of rotator cuff strain

  • Growth plate stress

• Why it matters: Pain here often means the arm is taking on too much load — often due to poor mechanics, overuse, or lack of recovery.

🚨 Rule of thumb: If they feel pain that affects performance or lingers longer than 48 hours, they should be evaluated.

🔴 Drop in Throwing Velocity or Accuracy

If your player suddenly can’t throw as hard or misses more often than usual, it could be more than just a bad day or mental block.

• What it could indicate:

  • Compensating for pain by altering mechanics

  • Shoulder instability

  • Muscle fatigue from overuse

• Why it matters: Young players might not say “my arm hurts” — but a noticeable drop in performance is often their body’s way of signaling an issue.

⚠️ When speed or control drops suddenly, pain is often the hidden reason.

🔴 Stiffness or Loss of Range of Motion

If your child complains of tightness that doesn’t go away after stretching or rest, or if they can’t raise their arm, fully extend their elbow, or rotate their shoulder like they used to — that’s a red flag.

• What it could indicate:

  • Early soft tissue restriction

  • Joint inflammation

  • Structural irritation (labrum, biceps tendon, etc.)

• Why it matters: In young athletes, mobility loss often appears before pain does.

🧠 Pro tip: Compare arm range side-to-side. If the throwing arm is significantly tighter, don’t ignore it.

🔴 Swelling in the Arm, Elbow, or Shoulder

Even slight puffiness or inflammation around the elbow or shoulder isn’t just cosmetic — it’s often a sign of stress or irritation in the joint.

• What it could indicate:

  • Inflammatory response to repetitive stress

  • Ligament strain

  • Possible early-stage tendonitis or joint fluid buildup

• Why it matters: Swelling usually means the body is reacting to overload. Catching it early can prevent more serious damage.

👀 Tip: Look for subtle asymmetry — compare both arms and notice if one looks fuller or warmer than the other.

🔴 Changes in Mechanics

Kids won’t always say “it hurts,” but you might see it. Are they short-arming throws? Dropping their elbow? Rotating their trunk differently?

• What it could indicate:

  • Pain-based compensation

  • Fatigue in stabilizing muscles

  • Motor pattern breakdown

• Why it matters: These changes are the body’s way of protecting itself — but they can lead to bad habits and further injury if not addressed.

📹 Suggestion: Take a quick video of their throwing motion over time — subtle changes are easier to spot when you compare side-by-side.

🔴 Saying “It Only Hurts After Games”

Many players hide pain because they don’t want to sit out. Saying “it just hurts after I pitch/hit/play” is often their way of downplaying something more serious.

• What it could indicate:

  • Overuse microtrauma

  • Tendon or joint overload

  • Lack of adequate recovery between outings

• Why it matters: Pain that shows up after activity is just as important as pain during activity. It can mean inflammation is setting in and the body isn’t recovering properly.

⭐️ The point above is agruably the most important.

🗣Further, If a player is sore after every outing, something in their workload or mechanics needs to be adjusted.

✅ Wrap-Up Advice for Parents:

If your young athlete shows any of these signs, don’t wait for it to get worse. Early intervention can mean the difference between a quick tune-up and a long-term injury.