Upper Extremity Injuries

Overview

Upper extremity injuries are among the most prevalent among athletes. They can also be easily dismissed or minimized by the athlete when it comes time to return to athletics.

Any damage to the hand, elbow, arm, or shoulder is considered an upper extremity injury. Upper extremity injuries are classified into two kinds, acute injuries (those produced by a particular incident or accident), overuse injuries (those caused by repetition).

Athletes, like older individuals, are prone to overuse injuries due to the repeated nature of their sports. Baseball pitchers, for example, are particularly vulnerable to overuse injuries due to their frequent overhand throwing action. This is why rules limiting the amount of pitches each game, particularly for young athletes, are so vital.