Trigger Point Therapy - Treating "Little League" Elbow
Treating Trigger Points in the Wrist Flexors
The Growing Problem of "Little League" Elbow
The elbow area is the last epiphyseal center to close so injuries can occur. “Young bones” and soft tissues can be particularly vulnerable to repetitive overload and injury.
Over the past few decades, the number of organized sports for children has grown significantly, with millions of children participating in organized athletics each year.
The level of competition has also increased, along with the lure of “big bucks” funded by a media circus.
It is not uncommon for young athletes to have year- round training with higher intensities at ever-younger ages.
An estimated 4.8 million children aged 5-14 years participate in baseball and softball. The incidence of all baseball-related overuse injuries is 2%-8% per year.
The incidence of overuse injuries in the 9- to 12-year-old range for baseball is 20%-40%, and in the adolescent age group is 30-50%.
The most common injury is Little Leaguer’s Elbow (LLE), but this group also includes traction Apophysitis of the Medial Epicondyle, Panner disease, and Osteochondritis Dissecans.
Little League Elbow (LLE)
LLE is an overload syndrome resulting from the repetitive action of softball/baseball and results in elbow pain.
LLE occurs more frequently in pitchers and can result in various fractures or bone growths.
During the throwing motion, inwards (valgus) stress is placed on the elbow. This valgus stress results in tension on the medial structures (i.e., medial epicondyle, medial epicondylar apophysis, medial collateral ligament complex) and compression of the lateral structures (i.e., radial head and capitullum).
Overuse occurs when the level of tissue breakdown is larger than repair. Recurrent micro-trauma of the elbow joint will often lead to Little League Elbow, a syndrome that includes:
(1) delayed or accelerated growth of the medial epicondyle (medial epicondylar apophysitis)
(2) traction apophysitis (medial epicondylar fragmentation)
(3) medial epicondylitis.
Trigger Point Therapy
There are a number of widely used treatment protocols (mostly developed in college athletics treatment rooms) which include trigger point therapy combined with specific stretching and strengthening programs.
In particular, trigger point therapy applied to the wrist flexors is non-invasive and can be uniquely effective in both providing pain relief and helping to accelerate the healing process.
Remember, when treating children, you should always obtain parental consent and offer the option of a chaperone.
Links
Find a Trigger Point Professional in your area
More Articles About Elbow Pain
Dry Needling for Trigger Points
Certify as a Trigger Point Therapist
About NAT Courses
As a manual therapist or exercise professional, there is only one way to expand your business - education!
Learning more skills increases the services that you offer and provides more opportunity for specialization.
Every NAT course is designed to build on what you already know, to empower you to treat more clients and grow your practice, with a minimal investment in time and money.
Help Desk
About Niel Asher Education
Niel Asher Education is a leading provider of distance learning and continued education courses.
Established in the United Kingdom in 1999, we provide course and distance learning material for therapists and other healthcare professionals in over 40 countries.
Our courses are accredited by over 90 professional associations and national accreditation institutions including the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). Full details of all international course accreditations can be found on our website.
Printed course materials and other products offered on our websites are despatched worldwide from our 3 locations in the UK (London), USA (Pennsylvania) and Australia (Melbourne).
More About Us
NAMTPT AWARD 2017
We are honored to have received the 2017 "Excellence in Education" Award from the National Association of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists.
Since 1999 Niel Asher Education has won numerous awards for education and in particular for education and services provided in the field of trigger point therapy.
Read Full Article
Award Winning Instructors
Niel Asher Healthcare course instructors have won a host of prestigious awards including 2 lifetime achievement honorees - Stuart Hinds, Lifetime Achievement Honoree, AAMT, 2015, and Dr. Jonathan Kuttner, MD, Lifetime Achievement Honoree, NAMTPT 2014.
Meet the Instructors
NAT Certification
If you are a qualified/licensed manual therapist or exercise/fitness professional you can expand your credentials with NAT certification.
In addition to national accreditation for continued education, each course that we offer includes "NAT Learning Credits". By taking and completing courses you can accumulate NAT credits to qualify for NAT certification.
There are currently 3 levels of NAT certification. Certifying NAT is a valuable way to show your clients that you take continued education seriously, and to promote your skills and qualifications.
About NAT Certification
Niel Asher Technique
Since 1999 the Niel Asher Technique for treating trigger points has been adopted by over 100,000 therapists worldwide, and has been applied to the treatment of a number of common musculoskeletal injuries.
The Niel Asher Technique for treating frozen shoulder was first introduced and published in 1997 and has been widely adopted by therapists and exercise professionals working within elite sports and athletics.
Read More
Worldwide Free Shipping
Most of our courses are available as either "Printed" or 'Download" editions. When you purchase a download edition, you receive immediate lifetime access to all course material. Course texts can be downloaded and printed if required.
When you purchase a "Printed" edition, you will also receive free access to the download edition.
We ship Worldwide from locations in the USA, UK, and Australia. Most items are despatched within 24 hours and shipping is FREE for all orders over US$50.
Shipping
This trigger point therapy blog is intended to be used for information purposes only and is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment or to substitute for a medical diagnosis and/or treatment rendered or prescribed by a physician or competent healthcare professional. This information is designed as educational material, but should not be taken as a recommendation for treatment of any particular person or patient. Always consult your physician if you think you need treatment or if you feel unwell.
Streaming online education for Rehabilitation and Fitness Professionals
1000+ hours of top quality films and courses.
New courses added every month.
All plans include unlimited access to online CE/CPD courses, webinars, live workshops, and events.
*Credit or Debit card required.