Dr. Grumet Speaks with KTLA About Baseball Injury Trends

Orthopedic Sports Medicine Surgeon Dr. Robert Grumet - with Hoag Orthopedic Institute - joins the In Studio team at KTLA to discuss the rising trend in baseball and elbow injuries for youth pitchers and how to prevent them. The Doctor Will See You Now is on KTLA Channel 5.

KTLA Anchor: It's baseball season, and sports medicine doctors are concerned about an alarming trend in youth baseball injuries — especially elbow injuries. What was once reserved for major leaguers, Tommy John surgery, is now being performed on kids. One study showed that as many as 60% of these reconstruction surgeries are being performed on athletes ages 10 to 19. Here to tell us more is Dr. Robert Grumet, a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon from Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Irvine. Dr. Grumet, great to see you this afternoon.

Dr. Grumet: Great to be here, thank you.

Anchor: We should mention that you serve as team physician for many local high schools, colleges, and even professional teams like the Angels.

Dr. Grumet: Yes, it's truly one of the great privileges of my career — being able to take care of athletes of all types and all ages.

Anchor: Let's get right into it. What are the main causes of these elbow injuries in young players?

Dr. Grumet: It really comes down to three things. The biggest issue is that these kids are playing all year round without taking breaks. A lot of them are throwing too many innings, playing multiple games in a day, or pitching several times over a weekend. The second issue is that many are being pushed to throw too hard — too much velocity — and sometimes they're being taught to throw pitches that put extra torque on the elbow, which just isn't appropriate for younger ages. The third factor is early specialization. A lot of these kids are focusing exclusively on baseball as young as eight years old. Studies show they'd be better served by diversifying — playing other sports — to improve their overall athleticism and reduce their injury risk.

Anchor: Tommy John surgery is something we associate with pro players. Is the treatment the same for youth players?

Dr. Grumet: Fortunately, a lot of the treatment for younger players is simply rest, time, anti-inflammatories, and ice. Surgery is recommended in some cases, but it's pretty rare at these younger ages. It's quite different from the professionals, where conservative treatment is tried but surgery is often the eventual outcome.

Anchor: What preventative measures would you recommend for parents and coaches?

Dr. Grumet: A good ten-minute warm-up before play is really important — some light stretching of the shoulder, some light calisthenics. Beyond that, I'd strongly encourage athletes and parents to build in two to three months away from baseball every year. Use that time to focus on other sports. The research really supports that approach.

Anchor: If a young player does suffer one of these injuries, does it impact their ability to play long-term?

Dr. Grumet: It can. Parents — and players — need to understand that everything is about moderation. Pushing too hard too early isn't necessarily the best thing for a long-term career. Many of the best professional athletes played multiple sports all the way through high school, and in some cases into college.

Anchor: So for a parent with a really talented young pitcher who wants to go all-in — is there an appropriate age to specialize?

Dr. Grumet: Most experts would say mid-to-late high school is the appropriate time for specialization. Playing multiple sports up until that point is really important. And at any age, the key is to listen to your body — don't push through pain or injuries, because that's what leads to bigger problems down the road.

Anchor: Really important advice. Dr. Grumet, thank you so much for being with us today.

Dr. Grumet: Absolutely, thanks for having me.

Anchor: For more information, you can visit Hoag Orthopedic Institute online.