Taking Care of Your Arm

If you want to be able to throw hard for more innings, in more games, and with greater effectiveness; you have to learn to take care of that arm!   You'll know when your arm is healthy by the way it feels.  Don't ignore the pain, understand it and do the right things to eliminate it.

Here are some tips:

• Make sure that you're completely warmed up before you start to throw hard.  This warm up period will take from 10 to 15 minutes of steady throwing to be adequate.
• Make sure that you throw with the proper mechanics.   That means a good fluid motion and complete follow-through.  Your arm will "last" longer and you'll lessen the chance of injury to your arm.
• Keep your arm warm between innings and while you're pitching if the weather is cold or rainy.
• After an outing, ice down your joints (elbow and shoulder) thoroughly to reduce the effect of any inflammation.  Your arm will "recover" quicker if you do that.
• Rest your arm after each outing so that it has time to heal.