Little League coach talks with pitcher and catcher

Spring training is here and the beginning of Little League baseball season is right around the corner. If you’re a proud parent and baseball fan like me, there will be plenty of trips to the ballpark for practices and games. And sometimes there will be injuries. One major concern for Little League pitchers is their arm health because most youth upper extremity injuries occur while pitching. In fact, the elbow is the most frequently reported area of overuse injury in child and adolescent baseball players. Here is the medical evidence to consider.

In a recent article for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr. Tetsuya Matsuura, reported that 25% of young players (age 8-12) experience elbow pain, with the highest rate of pain reported in pitchers. Specifically, Matsuura looked for osteochondral lesions, tears or fractures in the cartilage of bone covering the elbow joint.

Dr. Charles Metzger, an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in upper extremities, found that a simple stretch known as the posterior capsular stretch can help improve and prevent injury. “A posterior capsular stretch is done after play and since it is different from the general stretches players already know, it must be taught,” says Dr. Metzger. “Once learned, however, it is very simple, and takes only five minutes to complete. Nearly 97 percent of young players who perform the stretch properly and consistently report shoulder improvement.” Stretching exercises maintain good shoulder flexibility and reduce the risk of rotator cuff and other shoulder and elbow injuries to young pitchers. Without a stretching program, athletes tend to develop muscle imbalances through the season. The posterior capsular stretch is also known as the sleeper stretch. Click here for a video showing how to perform this stretch safely.

The good news is that Little League Baseball has taken steps to help limit the potential injury for today’s young pitcher by embracing the pitch count research and boldly altering their rules. Last year, I watched the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, PA and to my surprise, they had an outfield display for the pitch count of the pitcher.

In the February 6th issue of Sports Health, A Multidisciplinary Approach, Joseph J. Fazalare, et al published an article titled “Knowledge of and Compliance With Pitch Count Recommendations: A Survey of Youth Baseball Coaches.” The goal of the article was to see if coaches of youth baseball, in their region, were aware of the recommended guidelines and if they, in fact, followed these guidelines.

Their conclusions were that there was a deficiency in regard to knowing the guidelines set by the USA Baseball Medical and Safety Advisory Committee Pitching Guidelines. This led the authors to conclude that this may in fact put these young pitchers at increased risk for upper extremity pain and injuries.

Dr. George A. Paletta Jr., a surgeon at the Orthopedic Center of St. Louis and the team physician for the St. Louis Cardinals, firmly believes that sticking to the guidelines for playing baseball can significantly reduce injuries. “A young athlete should never throw through pain or continue to pitch when he or she is obviously fatigued,” said Paletta. He advises that parents should familiarize themselves with the recommended single game, weekly and season total pitch counts, suggested recovery times, and recommended ages for learning various pitches. Parents should insist that coaches and teams follow the Little League Baseball guidelines for the health and safety of young players.

For more information about reducing arm injuries for young pitchers, email Phillies Fan Joe Ruhl, PT.

- Contributed by: Joseh Ruhl, PT, ATC, Partner, E & A Physical Therapy

Cam McCormack, PT, MSPT provides SFMA education.

New Comprehensive Movement Assessment Tool

On Saturday morning, February 25, Cam McCormack, PT, MSPT provided a specialized in-service training to over 40 E & A Therapists on the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA). The SFMA offers a new approach to the treatment of pain and dysfunction. This efficient diagnostic tool enables our physical therapists to isolate regional interdependence associated with the injury. It is a comprehensive movement assessment tool used to categorize movement patterns and direct manual treatment and therapeutic exercise choices. Developed by physical therapists, this assessment helps get to the root cause of pain and disability. McCormack is certified in this technique and provided our therapists with extensive training.

The SFMA is the big brother of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). The SFMA differs from the FMS in that it is much more specific in determining the cause for movement dysfunctions. By identifying the specific area of dysfunction, a more individualized patient specific treatment plan can be started to address the precise problem. This leads to much more customized and treatment plans tailored to the individual patient.

Over 40 E & A Therapist Learn New Movement Assessment Technique

Due to participants’ overwhelming positive response, E & A Therapy anticipates a full course to facilitate SFMA certification for more of our physical therapists.To find a physical therapist utilizing the Selective Functional Movement Assessment, please contact Joe Ruhl, PT.

- Contributed by: Joseh Ruhl, PT, ATC, Partner, E & A Physical Therapy

The Philadelphia Rock and Roll Half Marathon is one of the most popular races in Philadelphia.  With the race gun going off on Sunday, September 18th, runners are in the final stretches of their long training programs.  Most runners have ramped up to their

Meseret--Female Winner, 2010

maximum long training run and have logged their highest weekly mileage, leaving their bodies primed for injury.   One of the easiest ways to prevent injuries in the final two weeks is to begin tapering your running.  Tapering means running less and resting more.  Most  athletes who have been training for a race 10 weeks or more find tapering the hardest part of the training program as they feel they will lose conditioning.  This does not occur.  In fact, strength improves as your muscles have time to recover, inflamed tendons have time to heal and your immune system gets stronger. 

After the race, unfortunately some aces and pains can become a problem. The most common injuries we see are over-use injuries in nature. If pain does not resolve in a week after the race, it is wise to seek out a Sports Physical Therapist for a quick check-up. 

Starting September 20th,  Excel Physical Therapy and their partners, Apex Physical Therapy are offering free injury or free Functional Movement Screenings at the following locations:

1. The Valley Forge Running Co. ***

2. Philadelphia Runner–Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011  5:30-7:30.  Along with Excel PTs, Dr. Michael Ross-Sports Medicine specialist with The Rothman Institute will be on hand to answer any questions.

3. Philadelphia Runner–Thursday, Sept. 22nd, 2011–after the group run!   7:30-8:30pm

4. Bryn Mawr Running Company–Wednesday, Sept. 28th, 5:00-7:00pm ***

Good Luck with your race!

Should I ice or heat my injury? This is a very common question Physical Therapists are asked. As a general rule we tell people to use

Ice Massage

ice for an injury that just happened and heat for injuries that are more chronic in nature.  Recent injuries (those which occur within 48 hours) can benefit from ice to reduce the swelling and decrease the pain. Be mindful that you can ice as often as every hour, but to not leave the ice on too long (no more than 15-20 minutes to prevent skin irritation).  A barrier such as a light weight towel or pillow case should be used to prevent direct contact of the ice on the skin.  Ice treatments such as an ice massage can be used on more chronic conditions such as over-use injuries (ex: tendonopathy) after activity.

Heat treatments are recommended to help reduce tension in a muscle and help ready muscles for stretching or exercising. Heat is most commonly recommended for chronic conditions and before participating in activities.

Heating is not recommended if an area is swollen due to a recent injury (within 48 hours) , red or very inflamed.  Heat treatments can be accomplished by using a heating pad however, PTs recommend moist heat as it penetrates better.  Remember to keep a barrier (towel) between the heat source and your skin and check often to make sure your skin is not getting too red.  Heat can be left on for the recommended 15-20 minutes but should never be left on for long periods or during sleeping.

Excel Physical Therapy and Apex Physical Therapy have merged to form E & A Physical Therapy. The new company will provide the Philadelphia area with excellent rehabilitation services for musculoskeletal conditions and other injuries.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) August 4, 2011 — Two of the largest privately owned physical therapy businesses in the region have merged to form a new company. Excel Physical Therapy of Philadelphia, PA and Apex Physical Therapy of Blue Bell, PA, are now consolidating operations as E & A Physical Therapy.  The new practice, headquartered in Plymouth Meeting, will feature 22 locations and 60 physical therapists. 

E & A Physical Therapy draws from the experience of both brands, creating a company that will expertly rehabilitate those with musculoskeletal injuries, sports injuries and post-surgical conditions. Physical therapy offers a cost-effective alternative to surgery, disability and medication, and active adults can maintain a better quality of life through the use of personalized rehabilitation and exercise programs. 

Todd Logic, PT  from the Apex ownership team, said that the two companies’ values and patient-centered philosophy made for a perfect match.

“We are energized to strengthen our brand, grow our market share and demonstrate the excellence that physical therapists can provide,” he said.

 “We want to continue to attract the highest quality of physical therapist and provide the one-on-one service that makes our treatment approach so effective.  This merger will help us do that well into the future,” said Jeff Ostrowski, PT  from the Excel ownership team.

About E & A Physical Therapy

E & A Physical Therapy provides rehabilitation for musculoskeletal conditions in outpatient clinics throughout the region under the brands Excel Physical Therapy & Fitness and Apex Physical Therapy & Fitness. The company employs 60 therapists in 22 locations.

For more information, please contact Sarah Walmsley, PT Director of Marketing at Swalmsley(at)excelphsyicaltherapy(dot)com.

 www.excelphysicaltherapy.com

www.apex-pt.com

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