Baseball fans know how hard players work on the diamond. We tend not to think of baseball as a contact sport, but have you ever watched a collision on base? Brutal.
Contact sport or not, over a quarter of a million players wind up in emergency every year, due to their efforts. That’s no joke.
So, in the interest of keeping all you practitioners of the Great American Sport in one piece, let’s review some common baseball-related injuries and how to prevent them.
Shoulders and arms
The shoulders and arms are some of baseball’s most frequent casualties (throwing being one of its most punishing requirements, especially for pitchers).
Rotator cuff tears and tendonitis are very common in baseball players, due to the stress placed on their joints and sometimes, collisions with other players.
Warming up your arms and shoulders before a game is an obvious way to prevent injuries to these vulnerable areas, but there’s more you can do. Resting between games is crucial, but so is keeping your arm warm while you’re on the bench. Keep your jacket on to the keep muscles relaxed. Ice your throwing arm’s wrist, elbow and shoulder after every game, also.
Upper legs and hips
There’s a lot of waiting around in in baseball, punctuated by brief, intense periods of running, jumping and throwing. These rapid-fire transitions can take a toll on the upper legs and hips.
One minute, you’re out in left field wondering if a ball is ever going to come your way and the next, it’s falling into your glove and demands to be thrown to the base. One minute, you’re standing on third base and the next, you’re running for home – hoping you can get past that catcher.
Use your waiting time to stretch your hamstrings and quadriceps, or to jog in place, to keep your muscles warm. This helps to prevent unnecessary injuries which can result from sudden, explosive movement after a period of stasis.
Head and face
There’s a good reason baseball players wear helmets and that catchers wear masks. Baseballs are hard, fast moving objects that can do a lot of damage if they hit you in the head or face. Broken bones, contusions, concussions and broken teeth are not uncommon in this sport.
The higher the quality of your helmet, the more protected you are. Also, a mouthguard can protect your teeth, preventing them from being knocked out or broken
These are some of the most common injuries in baseball and it’s clear that while you can’t always avoid a ding, you can mitigate the damage by preparing yourself for the possibility of injury. Simple actions can save you a lot of pain.
Back & Body Medical treats all kinds of athletes from elite pros to weekend warriors. Our multi-disciplinarian care provides effective, award-winning pain relief that’s personalized to your unique needs.
If you’re a baseball player with an injury, we’re here to get you back on the diamond. Contact us to find out how we can support your recovery and return to play.
