Little League Pitchers At Risk For Acromial Apophysiolysis
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - For many years doctors have warned against little league players throwing too many pitches as well as avoiding the use of curve balls at too early of an age. Now, a report in the journal Radiology finds that young baseball pitchers who throw more than 100 pitches per week are at increased risk of developing a newly identified shoulder injury linked with long term shoulder damage.
The injury is called acromial apophysiolysis.
The problem is the result of an incomplete fusion and pain at a bony shoulder structure called the acromion. The reason it is in the journal Radiology is because it was discovered on magnetic resonance imaging or MRI.
The researchers believe high school pitchers between 15 and 18 need to be watched carefully as well.
