Injury Prevention Considerations in Adolescent Overhead-Throwing Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this manuscript is to summarize concepts to consider when implementing ways to prevent injuries in adolescent overhead-throwing athletes. The goal of this review is to provide an updated and novel overview for the practitioner who cares for this specific patient population. This manuscript will review all factors related to the prevention of overhead-throwing injury risk in adolescents. The latest studies as well as well-cited literature are cited to provide up-to-date and accurate data backing up our conclusions. There are many overhead-throwing injuries in adolescent athletes. This manuscript will educate practitioners by discussing a multimodal approach to injury prevention through discussion of risk factors, recognition of the importance of the kinetic chain, use of patient-centered outcome tools to detect risk for injury, appropriate volume and workload throwing recommendations, a review of appropriate pitching biomechanics, and designing age-specific strength and conditioning programs.