Preventing Common Baseball Injuries

With spring right around the corner, many athletes have begun to shift their interests to the start of baseball season. The prospect of running onto the field for opening day is exciting for athletes and spectators alike. However, an early-season injury can turn this excitement into dread at a dime’s drop. At Island Sports Physical Therapy, our team of physical therapists wants to stop athletes from suffering a premature end to their season due to injury. By working with the experts at our sports injury clinic near Smithtown, you should be able to avoid falling victim to many common baseball injuries this season.

Common Baseball Injuries:

Baseball is a sport that requires athletes to partake in various throwing and twisting movements throughout each game. These motions can put mass amounts of stress on different parts of the body, potentially leading to devastating injuries and the need to visit our sports injury clinic near Smithtown. Some of the most common injuries faced by baseball players each year include:

• Elbow tendonitis.
• Oblique strains. 
• Rotator cuff issues.
• Labral tears.
• Shoulder instability.   

Preventing Injuries From Occurring:

Throughout the entirety of any sports season, the chance of sustaining an injury is always present. While at times they are unavoidable, it does not mean that athletes cannot take preventative methods to help reduce the risk of one occurring. The team at Island Sports Physical Therapy knows this, which is why we’d like to provide you with quality care. Below are a few options to consider to help prevent many common baseball injuries:

• Offseason Fitness Training: To prepare for the rigors of each season, athletes should spend the off-season training so they can avoid injuries. At our sports injury clinic near Smithtown, our physical therapists can develop the perfect off-season training program to help baseball players stay in shape and increase their athletic output. Since our physical therapists are trained to understand how the body works, it makes them the perfect trainers!   

• Physical Therapy: For many athletes, the desire to play through minor bumps and bruises sustained throughout a season is very common. However, this decision can prove to be detrimental, as it increases the likelihood of an even worse injury taking place. Through the use of stretches and strengthening exercises, our physical therapists can help stop minor injuries in their tracks, getting you back to competing without the need to miss a significant amount of game time.

• Take Time To Warm-Up: While the baseball season extends into the hottest months of summer, the first few weeks take place in March. The cold weather experienced this time of year can cause the muscles to become stiff. Trying to compete in this state is a surefire way to sustain an injury, which is why it is so imperative to always make time for a proper warm-up. By performing a few dynamic stretches and exercises, you’ll increase the blood flow to and flexibility of your muscles, preparing them for the stresses that will be placed on them during the game.  

• Use The Right Form: Muscle and ligament injuries are commonplace in baseball. To help limit the amount of stress placed on these areas, make sure you’re using the proper mechanics for your position. Whether you’re running through the outfield tracking a fly ball, or zipping the ball from third base to throw out a runner, using the form you’ve spent countless hours practicing will go a long way in keeping you on the field. 

Sports Injury Clinic near Smithtown

At Island Sports Physical Therapy, we combine competence, compassion, and hard work to provide each athlete that comes to our sports injury clinic near Smithtown, with individualized care. We know how upsetting it can be to miss time from your sport due to injury, which is why we strive to do everything in our power to stop this from happening. If you’re interested in learning more about what can be done to prevent common baseball injuries or discovering exactly how our team will be able to treat them, be sure to contact us today!