Your child lives for baseball. The smell of the glove, the crack of the bat and the rush of striking someone out. But if your child plays often, you may start to notice something else: elbow pain.
One common cause is Little League elbow. This overuse injury affects growing athletes in baseball, softball, tennis, volleyball and golf. If it’s not treated early, it can lead to long-term damage. With the right steps, most kids recover fully and return to the game they love.
Little League elbow is a spectrum of overuse injuries that affect the inside of the elbow in growing children and teens. These injuries can involve the growth plate, bone, ligaments and muscles on the inner side of the elbow, including medial epicondyle apophysitis, medial epicondyle stress fractures, ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries and flexor-pronator muscle strains.
The condition most commonly affects the growth plate on the inside of the elbow. Growth plates are areas of soft bone tissue that help bones grow. Repeated throwing motions, such as pitching, can place too much stress on the elbow over time, leading to irritation, inflammation (swelling) or small tears in the growth plate and surrounding tissues.
Little League elbow is most common in children ages 8 to 15, but it can occur up to age 17 if the growth plate has not yet fused.
It is most common in baseball pitchers, but anyone who throws a lot can get it. This includes:
Children repeatedly use the elbow joint to throw a baseball, which can strain the muscles and ligaments attached to the inner side of the elbow. Little League elbow occurs when the inner side of the elbow pulls the growth plate away from the rest of the bone. Because the growth plate is weaker than the ligaments and muscles that attach to it, growing bones are easily injured.
You might have Little League elbow if you notice these signs:
The pain often starts slowly. At first, your child may only feel it when they throw hard. Later, it might hurt when they rest. If your child starts avoiding throwing or complains of ongoing pain, see their health care provider for a closer look.
You should see a health care provider if your child’s elbow pain lasts more than a few days or worsens. Do not wait. Seeing a provider early can save your child weeks of rest later. Left untreated, the disorder may lead to small fractures in the growth plate, loose bodies (bone chips), early arthritis and bone spurs.
A provider will complete a detailed physical exam. They will check your child’s range of motion, tenderness along the elbow, strength and stability. They will also want to know:
If your provider cannot diagnose the injury, they may order imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). These tests help rule out other injuries and confirm the diagnosis.
The main treatment of Little League elbow is rest. You need to stop throwing for a while. Most kids need four to six weeks off from throwing. Some need longer. Here are steps your child’s provider may suggest:
Most children with Little League Elbow do not need surgery. In rare cases, surgery may be needed if a piece of bone has pulled away from the inside of the elbow (a displaced fracture) or if a ligament in the elbow has torn away from the bone. Surgery can help repair these injuries and restore elbow stability.
Recovery time can vary depending on how early the injury is treated and how severe it is. Mild cases may improve in four to six weeks. More serious cases can take several months.
Returning to play too soon can lead to reinjury. It is important to follow the provider’s guidance closely.
The best way to avoid Little League elbow and other overuse injuries is to encourage your child to play smart by following these steps:
Banner Sports Medicine High Performance Center offers a full suite of services focused on injury prevention, resilience, reconditioning and return to performance following an injury.
Both are common, overuse-related elbow injuries caused by repetitive throwing. The key difference is that Little League elbow affects the growth plate in young athletes. Tommy John, also known medically as ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury, affects older teenagers and adults.
At Banner Health, we know an elbow is more than a medical issue. It’s a missed game, a sidelined season and a worried parent. Our sports medicine team is here to help your young athlete heal and keep loving the sport they play.
Here is what you can expect when you choose Banner Health:
Ready to help your young athlete get back in the game? Schedule an appointment with one of our providers.
Little League elbows are a common cause of elbow pain in young athletes. Symptoms include inner elbow pain (especially during throwing), swelling around the elbow and decreased performance.
Most kids feel better in four to six weeks with rest. A full return to throwing may take a few months. Healing time depends on the severity of the injury and how well your child follows the provider’s plan.
No. Most children do not need surgery. Surgery is only needed if a piece of bone breaks off or if rest does not fix the problem.
No. This injury affects growing bones in children. Adults can get other elbow injuries from throwing, like UCL injuries, tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow.
It is the medical term for Little League elbow, a growth plate injury in young athletes.
Yes. But only sports that do not stress the elbow. Running and soccer may be okay. Always ask your child’s health care provider first.
No. Braces do not prevent this injury. The best prevention is rest, good form and pitch counts.
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