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Pitching, swinging, and running aren’t isolated movements; they’re compound exercises which require a full range of motion. Therefore, baseball players are vulnerable to a number of injuries in a number of areas. The following injuries are some of the most common among baseball players of all ages, positions, and leagues.

Wrist | Tendonitis

Throwing, catching, and striking puts stress on a player’s wrists over time, which can cause repetitive strain injuries like wrist tendonitis. As the tendons within the wrist swell, it can be more difficult and even painful for baseball players to move their wrists. Symptoms of wrist tendonitis include:

• Inflammation
• A grinding feeling
• Red coloration
• Pain
• Warmth to the touch

Elbow | Bursitis

In the outfield and in between bases, players take a lot of dives during each game. However, when a player abruptly lands on their elbow, the trauma can sometimes lead to olecranon bursitis — which includes the quick onset of symptoms like swelling, pain, and limited mobility.

Shoulder | Labral Tear

Strong pitchers can hurl a baseball with strength and speed. The force that pitchers put into a single throw, however, can put a lot of stress on their shoulders over time. In fact, the labrum, or cartilage surrounding the shoulder socket, of the pitcher’s dominant arm is at a higher risk of tearing in tenured athletes. Baseball players with labral tears commonly report symptoms including:

• Limited mobility
• Decreased strength
• Shoulder stiffness

Lower Back | Stress Fracture

Clinically known as spondylolysis, stress fractures in the lower spine are a common issue among baseball players and young athletes in general as this injury is caused by repetitive stress to the lower back. Such stress may include painful trauma or sudden stretches that overly extend the lower spine. Common symptoms of spondylolysis include limited mobility and pain in the bottom parts of the vertebrae.

Knee | ACL Injury

Suddenly diving for a catch or quickly darting after the ball can cause an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, something plenty of team members experience at some point in their baseball career. More specifically, when players turn their knee with extensive force — by swinging, pitching, or running — the ACL is at high risk of injury. An ACL injury is most often characterized by symptoms such as:

• Pain
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Difficulty walking

Ankle | Sprain

There are a lot of ways for players to make a false step or take a bump on the field — sprinting from base to base or sliding to home — in which sudden trauma twists or rolls the ankle into a sprain. Torn ankle ligaments, or sprains, can cause symptoms that range from mild swelling to difficulty walking.

Sports Medicine in St. Augustine

If you’re suffering from any of the injuries listed above or another sports-related issue, get back to baseball with Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine. Thanks to our state-of-the-art sports medicine center, we have the diagnostic tools and treatment alternatives to carefully and completely bring you back to the pitcher’s mound or batter’s box. Schedule your appointment today by filling out our online request form or calling 904-825-0540.