Elite Performance Institute

Pain on the inside of a young baseball or softball player’s elbow should not be ignored.

It could be Little League elbow, an overuse injury caused by repetitive throwing. Although rest is important, rest alone may not address why the elbow was taking on too much stress.

Shoulder mobility, thoracic rotation, strength, throwing mechanics, and whole-body movement can all influence the amount of stress placed on the elbow. A complete return-to-throwing plan should evaluate and treat the entire athlete—not just the painful area.

Always feel tight?

The answer is not always to stretch more.

Sometimes that tight feeling is not a true muscle length problem. It can come from neural tension, stress, inactivity, weakness, or your body trying to create stability in a position you do not control well.

Mobility is not just flexibility. It is strength and control through a range of motion.

So instead of asking, “What should I stretch?” start asking, “What do I need to control?”