Five minute stretch can help prevent arm injury to young baseball players

A study presented at the 2010 meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says a five-minute stretch can help young baseball players avoid a throwing arm injury.

Pitchers and catchers under the age of 15 often experience tightness of a shoulder ligament known as the posterior-inferior glenohumeral ligament. If this ligament is not stretched, it will become increasingly tighter and more prone to pain or injury as the player ages, if that player continues to play baseball.

A study of 1,267 youth baseball player, led by Charles Metzger, an orthopaedic surgeon, found that a simple stretch known as the posterior capsular stretch can help.

"A posterior capsular stretch is done after play and since it is different from the general stretches players already know. It must be taught."

He said nearly 97 percent of young players who performed the stretch properly and consistently reported shoulder improvement.

To see how to perform the stretch go to www.safethrow.com.

This story was originally published March 10, 2010 at 9:13 AM with the headline "Five minute stretch can help prevent arm injury to young baseball players."