Why More Baseball Players in Edmond, Oklahoma Are Getting Throwing Injuries (and How Parents Can Help Prevent Them)

If you’re the parent of a youth or high school baseball player in Edmond, chances are you’ve heard of someone dealing with elbow or shoulder pain—maybe it’s even your own child. From Little League to varsity, throwing injuries are becoming more common in young athletes than ever before.

And it’s not just “normal soreness.” We’re talking about serious injuries like:

• Little League shoulder

• UCL sprains (Tommy John injuries)

• Labrum tears

• Rotator cuff strains

At Next Level Sports Performance & Therapy, we work with baseball players across Edmond to help them recover from and prevent these issues. The truth is, most throwing injuries aren’t freak accidents—they’re the result of overuse, poor mechanics, or a lack of proper training and recovery.

⚠️ Why Are So Many Baseball Players in Edmond Getting Hurt?

There are a few common threads we see again and again in athletes who come in with arm injuries:

1. Too Much Throwing, Not Enough Recovery

Many kids today throw year-round: spring league, summer ball, showcases, travel teams. Without adequate rest, the shoulder and elbow joints simply break down. The body needs off-season time to heal and rebuild.

2. Poor Throwing Mechanics

Even small flaws in mechanics—like an early trunk rotation or dropping the elbow—can place tremendous strain on the arm. These issues often go uncorrected for years, until pain shows up and limits performance.

3. Weak or Imbalanced Muscles

Throwing is a full-body movement, not just an arm action. Weak hips, a weak core, or poor scapular control often lead to compensations that overstress the elbow and shoulder.

4. Growth Spurts

Young athletes grow fast, and as the bones lengthen, coordination can suffer. During these phases, if strength and control aren’t maintained, injury risk increases dramatically.

5. Ignoring Early Warning Signs

Too often, athletes are taught to “tough it out.” But pain with throwing—especially if it lingers—isn’t normal. Ignoring it can turn a small issue into a season-ending injury.

🎯 The Long-Term Cost of Throwing Injuries

Injuries like UCL tears or shoulder impingement don’t just hurt—they often lead to:

• Missed seasons

• Surgery and long recoveries

• Loss of velocity

• Confidence issues on the mound or at the plate

• A slower or incomplete return to performance

And for Edmond athletes aiming for college ball or beyond, that’s a big deal.

✅ How Edmond Parents Can Help Prevent Throwing Injuries

Here’s how to give your athlete the best shot at a healthy, pain-free season:

🔹 Get a Professional Movement Assessment

Before issues arise, a trained sports physical therapist can evaluate your child’s strength, mobility, throwing mechanics, and workload history. At Next Level, we use these screens to create individualized plans that identify red flags early and improve long-term performance.

🔹 Monitor Throwing Volume

Stick to pitch count guidelines—not just during games but in practices, bullpens, and showcases too. More is not always better, and fatigue is a major risk factor for arm injury.

🔹 Prioritize Strength & Mobility Work

Rotator cuff and scapular stability are key, but don’t forget the legs and core. A strong lower body helps transfer force efficiently, so the arm doesn’t have to do all the work.

🔹 Enforce Off-Season Time

Your child needs a true break from throwing each year—ideally 8–12 weeks. This gives joints and soft tissues time to recover from the repetitive strain of pitching or long toss.

🔹 Listen to Pain

If your athlete complains of arm discomfort that doesn’t go away with rest, take it seriously. Addressing issues early can prevent long-term damage and keep them on the field.

🧠 We Help Edmond Athletes Throw Better, Safer, and Stronger

At Next Level Sports Performance & Therapy, we understand the unique demands of throwing sports. We work with pitchers, position players, and multi-sport athletes to:

• Assess risk

• Correct mechanics

• Build bulletproof shoulders and arms

• Create custom throwing progressions and return-to-throw plans

Whether your athlete is currently hurting or just wants to stay ahead of injury, we’re here to help.

✅ Worried About Your Child’s Arm Health?

Let’s get ahead of the injury before it starts.

👉 Schedule a free discovery call with our Edmond-based team today. We’ll talk through your child’s throwing history, current performance, and any concerns you have—then help you map out a plan to keep their arm healthy and game-ready.