high school baseball - Baseball Health Network

Free Webinar – Treating Our Youth From Head To Toe

By Jim Monaghan
Baseball Health Network

Youth sports specialization is on the rise. As a result, the prevalence of pediatric ACL injuries is also increasing. Join Columbia University Sports Medicine on November 13th for Pediatric Sports Injuries: Treating our youth from head to toe to learn about the latest techniques for prevention and treatment of these injuries in our young athletes.

Children are playing sports in record numbers across the United States, and with this increase in participation there has been an alarming rise in the number of sports injuries. Taking optimal care of these injured kids requires extensive knowledge and comfort in techniques that have previously been thought of as only pediatric, or only adult. This webinar reviews and discusses treatment strategies to maximize outcomes and get these developing athletes off the sidelines and back onto the field. Understanding the etiology, diagnosis, surgical, and non-surgical modalities are the key elements of a successful treatment plan. This course will be of interest to Team Physicians, Certified Athletic Trainers, Physical Therapists, Primary Care Sports Medicine Physicians and coaches of all youth levels.

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be better able to:

Interpret and differentiate the physiology of pediatric sports injuries to formulate a treatment plan
Classify and identify different graft options to reconstruct a pediatric ACL injury in order to generate an appropriate recovery plan
Analyze and recognize the role of Orthobiologics such as PRP in the Developing Athlete
Understand and implement treatment options for patellar instability in the growing athlete
Produce a workup and plan for the developing athlete with lower back pain

FACULTY/AGENDA –
Charles A. Popkin, MD
Pediatric ACL Reconstruction: What you need to know in 2018
Elan L. Goldwaser, DO
Concussion in the Developing Mind: Pearls for concussion management in kids under 12
Lauren H. Redler, MD
Patellar Instability in the Developing Athlete
Benjamin D. Roye, MD, MPH
Back Pain in the Developing Athlete: When should you be concerned?
Christopher S. Ahmad, MD
The Tommy John Epidemic in Youth Throwers: How can we stop it?

This course is free to all participants.

Seasonal Timing For Baseball Players

By Frank Alexander MS, ATC
Baseball Health Network

With the winter season approaching, many baseball players take this time to ready themselves for the upcoming season. While strength and conditioning training and a throwing program are essential to improve skills, a period of rest is imperative. This down time gives the athlete’s body the recovery time it desires and can even help with achy and sore muscles. A period of rest can vary depending upon the athlete’s level of competition or how prone to injury they may be. For example, an athlete coming off of a shoulder injury or surgery may want a longer period of rest in the off-season. However, an athlete that made it through the previous season healthy may want to shorten their rest. Again, these time frames are dependent on skill levels and individual health.

As the holidays rapidly approach, this is an optimal time for athletes to take their break from training and throwing. High school athletes may want to take month or so off since their season typically does not start until late February or early March. Conversely, collegiate athletes may want to take a few weeks off since their season starts not long after the New Year arrives. Once you resume your throwing program, start with a simple flat-ground throwing program. Be sure not to confuse flat-ground throwing with flat-ground pitching! Having access to a well-versed pitching coach can greatly help achieve optimal throwing after a period of rest.

When it comes to strength and conditioning, make sure your core, legs, and shoulder are strong enough to take you through the spring season and into the summer and fall. Many athletes are specializing in a single sport at an alarmingly young age and maintenance programs are often neglected, leading to younger athletes needing career-altering surgeries such as Tommy John. Upon resuming a conditioning program, be sure to include the Thrower’s 10 exercises on a regular basis!

Off-season training is great for athletes of all ages and skill levels. Having access to well-versed coaches, such as pitching and strength-and-conditioning coaches, can help an athlete achieve longevity in their career. Additionally, periods of rest built into a training regimen can do the body some good and allow aches and soreness time to resolve. While some of your teammates may be training every day without a break, remember that a few weeks off now can save your career down the road!

Frank Alexander, a member of Team Ahmad, is a Physician Extender to Dr. Christopher Ahmad at Columbia University Medical Center.

Proposed NJ High School Pitch Count Rules

By Jim Monaghan
Baseball Health Network

In June 2016, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) announced a revised pitching policy that will result in new rules for pitchers beginning with the 2017 season.

Each NFHS member state association will be responsible for setting its own restrictions for high school pitchers which will set both a pitch count and a longer required rest period between mound appearances based upon pitches.

Here in New Jersey, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) is expected to approve a proposal that a special committee recently drafted, limiting varsity baseball pitchers to a maximum of 110 pitches in a single game.

There are also new proposed per-game pitch rules stipulating mandatory rest periods.

1-30 pitches – no rest between appearances
31-50 pitches – one calendar day of rest
51-70 pitches – two calendar days of rest
71-90 pitches – three calendar days of rest
91-110 pitches – four calendar days of rest

NJ high school pitcher Additionally, a pitcher throwing fewer than 30 pitches in a game will not be permitted to throw more than 50 pitches in two consecutive days. Pitchers will not be permitted to pitch on three consecutive days.

Previously, New Jersey high school pitchers had restrictions on how many innings they could pitch in a week, but there weren’t any specific pitch counts.

The NJSIAA is expected to make a formal announcement by February 2017.

Free Webinar – Treating Our Youth From Head To Toe

Seasonal Timing For Baseball Players

Proposed NJ High School Pitch Count Rules

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