Injury from Lifting During Baseball Season?

[Kupuna]

Grandson got up and his elbow hurt and he could not straighten his pitching arm. Although he had pitched one inning the previous afternoon, he thinks the injury resulted from PE weightlifting class because his non throwing elbow also hurts but he can straighten that elbow. Some other kids in the class also told him their arm and/or elbow area was also hurting. He went to see the doctor yesterday and she has no idea what it is. He is being referred to a specialist. In the meantime he has been given anti-inflammatory pills. He still goes to practice since he says he can still pinch run(led team in steals last year). He will not throw or take batting practice until he sees the specialist. Hope he has not lost the entire season. I had warned him about lifting heavy weights during baseball season--he was working on weights equal to his body weight.

[Chris O'Leary]

he was working on weights equal to his body weight.

How old is he?

Given those weights, if he's young than 16 he could have a serious injury.

He needs to go see a doctor.

[Kupuna]

He is a late born sophomore. His primary care physician is trying to get him to the specialist on an emergency referral.

[1chapterahead]

Did he lift weights before of after pitching 1 inning?

[wogdoggy]

kids lift weights at too young of an age and weightlifting is OVEREMPHASIZED by high school coaches...if weight lifting were that important HULK HOGAN would be on the red SOX..

TWO 20 lb dumbells should cover all the weight he needs

[Kupuna]

He did his lifting the morning before pitching. Lifting during baseball season has been a complaint of most of the baseball players but PE weightlifting instructors also coach the football teams and I do not think they give the baseball players a break. Grandson's JV coach may say something to the Varsity coach who is one of the weightlifting instructors. At the neighboring high school(same school district), the baseball players take baseball training for PE. In fact the neighboring schools top player is know as a power hitter who does not do any heavy lifting.

[RIstar]

sounds like tendinitis problem on the medil epicondyle {sp} bone.

[1chapterahead]

He did his lifting the morning before pitching. Lifting during baseball season has been a complaint of most of the baseball players but PE weightlifting instructors also coach the football teams and I do not think they give the baseball players a break. Grandson's JV coach may say something to the Varsity coach who is one of the weightlifting instructors. At the neighboring high school(same school district), the baseball players take baseball training for PE. In fact the neighboring schools top player is know as a power hitter who does not do any heavy lifting.

I'm no doctor or sports trainer but I would guess that his arm would probably be in better shape albeit still sore if he had pitched first and then worked out. My guess is, working out left his arm weakened and susceptible to injury. The muscles and tendons aid in protecting the joints, and when they're fatigued you expose the joint to the will of momentum. Good luck, hopefully rest is all that's needed.

[Maxx]

Do you know what exercises he was performing? I don't think "heavy" weightlifting is as big a concern as is exercise selection, proper technique, and proper supervision. Anyway, heavy is a relative term.

[Kupuna]

Maxx,
I'm sure his technique is not too good. He's been lifting just a few months and I do not know how closely they are supervised.

[paul5150]

I second tendonitis.

[fastbal95]

If he cannot straighten his arm, then it could very well be that he has slammed his olecranon process into its fossa repeatedly, this good definately be from his pitching, but also from lifting weights if he locks his arms out. The repeated slamming lessens the depth of how far the process can go into the fossa, thereby severly limiting the extension of the elbow. Numerous "traditional" pitchers get this.

If this is the case, there is nothing that he can do to reverse it.

[Kupuna]

Good News--Grandson's arm was a lot better yesterday and he could straighten his elbow and only had a pain if you poked one area. Saw orthopedic specialist this morning and he said it's an inflammation and referred grandson to a physical therapist who will give him some stretching exercises to do after weightlifting class to lessen chances for future problems. For the near future, no throwing or weightlifting for another week.

[1chapterahead]

That's good to hear.

[Pitcher1983]

I don't know what kind of exercise he was doing (what's PE?), but if you can't straighten your elbow looks like you got hyperextension.
I had this two years ago and i couldn't pitch for months because i felt pain in my lateral (external) side of the elbow, but not the olecranon.
I started pitching again and i put some pronation in my arm mechanics so i don't feel pain animore.
Actually, today after one year and a half i felt a little pain in one very nanosecond, but then i kept pitching long toss on a straight line, pitching hard, with no pain.
I think that weightlifting at that age is useless, it is mutch more important having tubing exercises and light dumbells for triceps, shoulders, and forearm muscles.