Elbow Injuries and Young Athletes
Sports Medicine Program
When your child has an elbow injury, they need prompt medical attention from experienced providers who know how to care for growing kids. Phoenix Children’s can get them back in action.
What is Little League elbow?
Little League elbow is an overuse injury of the elbow that mostly occurs in young athletes who play baseball, softball, volleyball and tennis. Little League elbow often occurs when a player frequently throws or hits a ball without adequate rest in between the activity.
What are common signs of an elbow injury?
Little League elbow causes irritation of a growth plate inside the elbow. Symptoms may include:
- Elbow pain
- Swelling or locking of the elbow joint
- Decreased throwing power, speed and accuracy
- Restricted range of motion (difficulty straightening the injured elbow)
When should a child get medical attention for an elbow injury?
Your child should see a pediatric provider if he or she has a lot of pain and/or difficulty using the injured elbow.
How is an elbow injury diagnosed?
Your pediatric provider will:
- Review health history
- Examine the injured elbow
- Order X-rays to check growth plates in the elbow, if needed
- Order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for a closer look at muscles and ligaments, if needed
How should an elbow injury be treated?
- Stop using the elbow as soon as an injury occurs.
- Rest the elbow from throwing motions to give the growth plate time to heal.
- Apply ice or a cold pack on the injured area for 20 minutes several times a day to ease swelling and pain.
- Take an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication – aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen – to reduce discomfort and swelling.
Your provider may recommend physical therapy to help improve throwing techniques, flexibility and strength to promote healing and help prevent future injuries.
When can a child return to throwing and hitting activities?
Little League elbow may take several weeks to heal. A return to throwing, pitching or hitting too soon may result in reinjury. A child can gradually return to play when he or she:
- Isn’t experiencing elbow pain and/or swelling
- Has full range of motion and strength in the elbow
- Has been cleared by a provider (if one was seen)
How can a child prevent future injuries?
To prevent elbow injuries, baseball and softball pitchers should follow pitch count guidelines and ensure adequate rest. See age-specific pitching recommendations.
All other athletes should listen to their bodies. When experiencing pain, rest immediately. Do not push through pain, as this could worsen an injury.
Where can I find medical care for my child’s elbow injury?
Phoenix Children’s offers urgent and non-urgent options for treating elbow injuries.
- Urgent Care – for injuries after hours and on weekends (seven days a week, 5-11 p.m.)
- Sports Medicine – for pediatric-specific sports medicine and physical therapy (every weekday during normal business hours)