3 Tips To Stay Healthy This Softball Season

Spring is here and with it, the start of another softball season.  Baseball tends to get a lot of attention for injury prevention and pitch counts while softball is too often ignored.  So today, I’d like to review some common softball related injuries and a few tips to help reduce the risk of injury.  

Knee and ankle injuries are common in softball.  A study by Lee, et al in the Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine showed that 32% of injuries in softball were to the lower extremity in comparison to only 19% in baseball.  A likely reason for this higher rate is that females’ lower extremity alignment tends to leave them at greater risk for sports injury than males.  Performing exercises to strengthen the legs and hips like the ones pictured below help improve alignment and reduce the likelihood of injury.  Perform these exercises three or more times a week for 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

Overuse is also a common cause of injuries in softball.  Softball pitching is often considered safe because the underhand delivery creates less stress on the athlete’s arm.  Though there is less stress in softball pitching than baseball, overuse should still be a concern.  A study by Hill, et al. examining 181 Division 1 softball pitchers showed that nearly 50% of those surveyed reported some sort of overuse injury.  Though pitch count guidelines are generally not as closely followed in softball as in baseball, there are some guidelines you can follow.  Andrews Institute for Sports Medicine offers these guidelines.

Proper recovery can help reduce the likelihood of injury.  Fatigue has shown to be a major factor in sports injuries.  Fatigue can be especially prevalent during tournament play where athletes may be playing multiple games per day for multiple days in a row.  Making sure athletes stay properly hydrated and rested can go a long way to help reduce the likelihood for injury.

Following these three quick tips can help an athlete stay on the field and off the sidelines this season.  If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Greg at Complete Game Physical Therapy at gcrossman@completegamept.com or call 978-710-7204.

This article is an educational resource written by Complete Game employees. Complete Game bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice, and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.