Hasbro physician warns of overuse injuries among young

PROVIDENCE – With outdoor youth sports such as baseball underway in the region following the long winter, Dr. Peter Kriz of Hasbro Children’s Hospital is warning parents and coaches to take the risks of overuse injuries among young athletes seriously.

Youth, sometimes perceived to be a shield against disease and injury, can sometimes generate its own specific problems, Kriz said.

“Most young athletes are still skeletally immature through early high school, which makes them susceptible to a variety of shoulder and elbow injuries from throwing and pitching,” said Kriz. “Given the recent trend in year-round participation in sports, it’s not uncommon to encounter these injuries in pre- and off-season time frames as well.”

Hasbro Children’s has a specialized throwing clinic to address overuse injuries generated by baseball and softball; Kriz sees many young athletes at the clinic as part of his practice.

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Among the focuses of the clinic are: identification of injury, biomechanical and growth-related risk factors for injury, improving throwing mechanics, increasing range of motion, improving flexibility, and building strength that is usable throughout the throwing motion.

“We perform a thorough history and physical examination in an effort to identify certain strengths and weaknesses for that particular athlete,” said Kriz. “We utilize a multidisciplinary approach to a thrower, with the goal of correcting kinetic chain imbalances, preventing injury recurrence, and enhancing performance.”

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