Little League Shoulder

Little League Shoulder Specialist

Little league shoulder is an injury to the growth plate of the upper arm bone at the shoulder joint and is common in children between 10 to 15 years of age. It is an overuse injury caused by repeated pitching (baseball pitching) or improper throwing in sports. Little league shoulder specialist, Dr. Kelechi Okoroha provides diagnosis and individualized non-surgical management for little league shoulder in Minneapolis. Contact Dr. Okoroha’s team for an appointment today!

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Pediatric Shoulder Anatomy

The upper arm bone is called the humerus. It forms the shoulder joint at the upper end and elbows joint at the lower end. In children, the bone continues from a region called the growth plate, which is found at the ends of the bone. This is a region of cartilage cells, which are still soft. In time, they mature and harden to form the adult bone.

What is Little League Shoulder?

Little league shoulder is an injury to the growth plate of the upper arm bone at the shoulder joint of children. It is an overuse injury caused by repeated pitching or throwing, especially in children between the ages of 10 to 15 years. This condition is mostly seen in baseball pitchers, but children in other sports who use improper throwing action are also at risk.

Symptoms of Little League Shoulder

The symptoms associated with this condition include:

• Pain in the shoulder while playing
• Swelling of the shoulder joint
• Reduced speed and control while throwing
• Difficulty in lifting the arm

When little league shoulder is suspected, it is important to schedule an orthopedic consultation for proper examination and care. Dr. Kelechi Okoroha is a little league shoulder specialist who provides detailed examination and care for patients with little league shoulder in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Minnesota and beyond.

Diagnosis of Little League Shoulder

Little league shoulder is diagnosed with a review of your child’s symptoms, medical history and a physical examination of the shoulder. Dr. Okoroha may also suggest a shoulder X-ray to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment of Little League Shoulder

After careful review of your history and examination, Dr. Okoroha will provide an individualized treatment plan to help your child return to normal function.

Little league shoulder is best treated by resting the shoulder until the injury heals. Dr. Okoroha may recommend exercises to strengthen the shoulder muscles or physical therapy during this time.