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May 21, 2013, 11:33pm

ASMI Sports Medicine Forum :: Baseball :: General :: Icing an arm after pitching

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Topic: Icing an arm after pitching (Read 1,427 times)

opbaseball
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Icing an arm after pitching
« Thread Started on May 31, 2005, 5:02pm »

I've read numerous articles that say that youth pitchers should ice their arm after pitching and other articles that say youth pitchers should warm down an arm after pitching (jogging, stretching, throwing 3/4 to 1/2 speed, etc.) instead of icing.

Does the ASMI have an opinion on the subject? I would like all opinions on this topic.

OPBaseball

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Glenn Fleisig, Ph.D.
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Re: Icing an arm after pitching
« Reply #1 on Jun 1, 2005, 8:05am »

The jury is still out whether icing is good or of no use to some healthy pitchers. If you are going to do something after the game - which might not be necessary - go with ice to decrease inflammation. If you're going to use some heat, use it before the game as part of warming up the muscles.

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opbaseball
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Re: Icing an arm after pitching
« Reply #2 on Jun 1, 2005, 10:10am »

Thanks!!

My son is 10 years old and usually doesn't throw more than about 50 - 60 pitches.

Before pitching, we go thru a pretty good warm-up. He stretches, then jogs, then starts his warm up throws.

He's never had any soreness or anything after pitching and I've never seen any swelling or anything like that.

By warm-down, I do not mean using heat. I used to ice his arm after he pitched, even after a pitching lesson if he threw more than 40 pitches during his lesson. However, I read somewhere that warming a pitcher down is sometimes better than icing an arm.

The logic is that if he starts and pitches 2 or 3 innings, he will leave the pitchers mound and go to another position. Since you don't want to ice the arm and then stick him back in the field, you wouldn't start icing until he's done with the game anyway. After about 3 or 4 more innings, there is probably not miuch benefit to icing.

So, I developed my own little warm-down routine that we do after his game. He gets about 40' away from me and throws about 3/4 speed to me for about 15 throws and then he gets about 20' away and throws about 1/2 speed.

Do you think jogging after the game would add to the warm-down process? Do you think that doing this warm-down is even worthwhile or should we really start icing the arm.

OPBaseball

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Glenn Fleisig, Ph.D.
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Re: Icing an arm after pitching
« Reply #3 on Jun 1, 2005, 11:51am »

op,

I think you are right on track. It probably does not make sense to ice the arm several innings after pitching. Your light toss after the game could be beneficial in preventing the arm from stiffening up. I would stick with you warm down and I don't think there's any need to adding jogging.

Keep in mind that even the best plans go astray. While your process seems reasonable, the most important thing is good communication between you and your son. If is arm is hurting, you're doing too much.

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opbaseball
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Re: Icing an arm after pitching
« Reply #4 on Jun 1, 2005, 2:30pm »

Thanks alot for the input!!

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