Arm Care for Baseball — Pitching Smarter to Stay in the Game
When it comes to youth baseball, there’s one word that keeps coming up: arm care. With young athletes playing longer seasons and competing across multiple leagues, it’s never been more important to monitor throwing volume, recovery, and injury risk.
That’s why APEX PWR’s physical therapy team, including Dr. Emily Cullen, DPT and Dr. Dustin Zink, DPT, took a recent trip to PDX Field House to meet with players, parents, and coaches about baseball pitching rest, injury prevention, and how to support youth athletes in Portland, Tigard, and Beaverton.
What Every Parent Should Know About Pitch Count and Rest
According to MLB’s Pitch Smart Guidelines, pitch count limits and rest days are essential to reducing injury risk. Major League Baseball is trying to help athletes at all ages of baseball make informed decisions with this easily accessible resource below:
👉 Click here to view the MLB guidelines
“Many parents are not aware of the recommended rest to throwing/pitching ratio…” says Dr. Emily Cullen. “This will hopefully bring some awareness to how accessible this information is through the MLB website. Parents and athletes can take an active role in promoting longevity in their sports.”
“This volume management applies to pitching, throwing, and even other overhead sports like quarterback or javelin,” adds Dr. Dustin Zink.
The Stats That Matter
- A youth pitcher who throws over 100 innings per year is 3.5 times more likely to sustain an injury (Fleisig et al., American Journal of Sports Medicine)
- 45% of youth pitchers pitch in a league without a pitch count or limits
- 43.5% pitched on consecutive days
- 30.4% played on multiple overlapping teams
- 13.2% pitched for more than 8 months per year
These numbers come from a national survey of over 750 youth baseball pitchers and highlight a key trend: many athletes are exceeding recommended limits and placing their arms at risk.
“Pitching lessons aren’t considered rest,” Dustin points out. “You’re still giving effort, which contributes to overall pitches thrown.”
“Any type of pitching needs to be accounted for throughout the year — this includes Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter offseason work,” he adds.
Our Team, Your Support System
At APEX PWR, we don’t just treat injuries — we help decrease overall risk. If your athlete is feeling shoulder or elbow discomfort, it’s worth evaluating their pitch volume, mechanics, and strength.
We specialize in:
- Physical therapy for baseball injuries
- Baseball-specific performance testing using VALD force plates and isometric testing
- Injury prevention testing and return-to-sport protocols (Learn more about athlete testing & injury prevention here)
- Education for athletes, coaches, and parents
And when it’s time to get back to the game? Our PTs work directly with our performance coaches to transition players into structured return-to-throwing and return-to-sport training — all under one roof.
Let’s Keep Baseball Fun (and Safe)
We love baseball. And we believe young players should be able to enjoy it for years to come — without burning out or breaking down. Stay tuned for next week’s article on early age sport specialization!
If you’re a parent, coach, or athlete in Portland, Beaverton, or Tigard, now is the time to get familiar with the guidelines, ask questions, and start building good habits early.
Sharing arm care information at a local youth baseball event in Portland
Questions? Our DPTs Are Here to Help.
We offer:
- Arm care evaluations
- Pain assessments
- Customized throwing programs
- Performance testing + injury prevention protocols
📍 Based in Tigard and proudly serving athletes in Portland and Beaverton
Frequently Asked Questions by Baseball Parents & Coaches in Portland, Oregon (FAQ)
- What is baseball pitching rest and why is it important?
Pitching rest refers to the scheduled time off from throwing that allows the arm to recover. Without proper rest, youth pitchers are at much higher risk for overuse injuries. - What are the MLB pitch count guidelines for youth pitchers?
MLB’s Pitch Smart program outlines age-specific limits for pitches thrown and mandatory rest days based on pitch volume. 👉 View guidelines here - Do private pitching lessons count toward pitch volume?
Yes — even if it’s not a game, pitching in lessons or practices still stresses the arm and contributes to total pitch volume. - How can I tell if my athlete is throwing too much?
Track pitch count across games, practices, lessons, and even other sports like quarterbacking. Throwing pain, fatigue, or loss of control are all red flags. - What if my athlete is on more than one team?
Parents and coaches need to coordinate to avoid overlapping games and overuse. Communication is key to managing total workload. - What services does APEX PWR offer for baseball players?
We offer injury rehab, return-to-sport testing, performance training, and ongoing arm care evaluations — all in-house. - Is there testing to help prevent injury before it starts?
Yes — our team uses VALD technology and movement analysis to flag risk factors before they lead to injury. Learn more here
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