Former professional baseball player, Dr. James Sostak offers timely prevention tips

FVO’s Dr. James P. Sostak believes that many overuse injuries – especially when it comes to the elbow joint and shoulder – are entirely preventable.

An orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and shoulder replacement, Dr. Sostak is an honored former professional baseball player on NCAA’s Verizon Academic All-American Baseball Team. He set the current NCAA men’s baseball record for most consecutive hits with fifteen.so he’s no slouch when it comes to baseball and injury prevention tips.

Here’s Dr. Sostak’s advice to parents for helping children prevent baseball injuries:

• Ensure that your child stays in shape all year long.
• Encourage your child to warm up – stretching, running, and gradual throwing before every game is vital.
• Ask your child about pain.they should never pitch through elbow or shoulder pain.
• Have your child learn and employ the proper mechanics of the game, including control and accuracy.
• Batters should always wear helmets, and catchers require facemasks, helmets, throat guards, full-length chest protectors, athletic supporters with cups, shin guards, and a catcher’s mitt.
• Overplaying is also a serious pitfall. Overuse injuries can lead to disease and growth-related disorders, as well as little leaguer’s elbow, swimmer’s shoulder, tennis elbow and/or stress fractures. But these injuries are entirely preventable. Avoid the potential for overuse injuries by.
• Limiting your child’s playing time to twenty hours each week with one or two days off from competitions, practices, and training.
• Making sure your child takes a few months off each year to try something new. And during baseball season, have your child.

1. 1. Play a variety of positions.
   2. Avoid pitching on multiple teams in the same season.
   3. Pitch every other day, not 2 or 3 days in a row.