Little League Shoulder

Pediatric Shoulder Anatomy

The upper arm bone is called the humerus. It forms the shoulder joint at the upper end and elbows joint at the lower end. In children, the bone grows from a region called the growth plate, which is found at the ends of the bone. This is a region of cartilage cells which are still soft. In time, they mature and harden to form the adult bone. 

What is Little League Shoulder?

Little league shoulder is an injury to the growth plate of the upper arm bone at the shoulder joint. It is an overuse injury caused by repeated pitching or throwing, especially in children between the ages of 10 to 15 years. This condition is mostly seen in baseball pitchers, but children in other throwing sports are also at risk. 

Symptoms of Little League Shoulder

The symptoms associated with this condition include:

• Pain in the shoulder while playing
• Swelling of the shoulder joint
• Reduced speed and control while throwing
• Difficulty in lifting the arm

Diagnosis of Little League Shoulder

Little league shoulder is diagnosed with a review of your child’s symptoms, medical history and a physical examination of the shoulder. Your doctor may also suggest a shoulder X-ray.

Treatment of Little League Shoulder

Little league shoulder is best treated by resting the shoulder until the injury heals. Your child’s doctor may recommend exercises to strengthen the shoulder muscles or physical therapy during this time.