December 2, 2024, 12:30 p.m.
If you have a young baseball or softball player who has been injured, you might be wondering how you can help them prepare for next season — and prevent the injury from happening again.
Christian Bednar, DPT, a physical therapist at the Young Athlete Center, part of St. Louis Children’s Hospital, recommends enrolling your young athlete in an off-season or preseason exercise routine or an arm-care program. Some things to look for in this type of program include:
- Addressing shoulder and elbow mobility
- Working on spine and hip mobility
- Including cardio and muscular endurance
Also important to recovery is reminding your young athlete to stretch and rest after prolonged throwing.
The Young Athlete Center offers a Thrower’s Ten program to help your young baseball or softball player. Learn more at stlouischildrens.org.
