was long tossing with 13yr old son when he experienced pain in front of shoulder and top of bicep area. no pop just muscle pain. So we're pretty sure it's muscular. It's been about a week. He says it feels fine except we tried to throw short distance real slow and he said still hurt some. Suggestions? When doyou know if torn muscle? No pain when not in use. How much rest?
Thanks in advance

kevin25,

Of course, I am not a doctor, but when the boys are that age, the plates that are between the bone joints are not fully hardend because they are not fully grown.

Throwing a baseball, especially long toss, after a summer of baseball, can stress those plates and cause them to crack, or what is known as a stress fracture.

I didn't listen to my son when he was 13 for a long time. Finally, I took him to the doctor.

As soon as my son described his condition, the sports doctor, said, "He has a stress fracture. Take the rest of the fall off to let it heal"

I described my experience for you because I think the "13" jumped out at me and jogged my memory.

Take him to a sports doctor.

Thanks for the reply. He's got an appointment with sports medicine clinic today. However it seems that some long toss would be Ok. Hasn't done much since the end of Aug. And been working back in slow. Don't you need to throw to increase the arm strength?

Let me correct myself, his season ended end of July. So basically rested arm for two and a half 3 months.

You are really making me flashback. I usually avoid injury type discussions because the correct answer is "I am not a doctor. Go to the doctor".

But, the timing of this is exactly what happened to my son. At 13, the season was probably over in late July with the playoffs, which is when he started complaining. (didn't want to pitch because his arm hurt)

When fall ball started, he started complaining again about "the same pain", so I took him to the doctor.

"Shut it down. It takes a long time for these things to heal. It might not be ready in the spring."

The age, the timing, and long tossing words are the triggers making me respond because of the similarities.

Yes, I agree you need to throw to increase arm strength.

But, you need to make sure he is healthy first.

Some long toss with a stress fracture is not OK.

It will need complete rest to heal if that is the problem.

Now, I will be curious as to what the doctor says, so let me know.

Stress fracture sounds like an awful injury, but is very common with young ballplayerss because of those growth plates and throwing a baseball.

I think they increase about the time the boys really start to grow.

Ended up going to physical therapist today. Slight strain of rotator cuff. no throwing for 4-6 weeks, rotator cuff exercises. No above the shoulder lifting. Should be Ok with some stengthening if muscles tied to rcuff. Said it was good to catch now

quote:

He's got an appointment with sports medicine clinic today.

quote:

Ended up going to physical therapist today.

?

I also question this.

Did you just skip the Sports Ortho and go straight to a PT? If so, I would suggest that was ill advised. Typically a PT doesn't know what/how to treat an injury without the Sports Ortho diagnosing the injury.

If you in fact did go to the Sports Ortho and was able to get a PT appt. on the same day, then I digress.

BTW, you can expect various arm problems now through the age of 18, minimum. Growth plates, tendonitis, scar tissue, etc. The best thing and only thing to do is what Observer recommended - Go to a Doctor!

saw sports physician today for son's shoulder. irritated rotator cuff and slight issue with growth plate. No throwing for another 5 weeks. follow up Jan 12. NO break in Growth plate some cartillage in place of bone. Insight from anyone?