STILL GROWING.
BUILT TO LAST.
Young athletes aren’t small adults. We assess, manage throwing load and build strength the right way through the growth years.
What’s a growth plate?
Growth plates are areas of developing cartilage near the ends of a young athlete’s bones. Until they close in the late teens, they’re the weakest point in the joint.
That’s why too much throwing, too soon, shows up there first. In young throwers it’s most often the elbow and shoulder.
Why an athletic trainer? Learn more from NATA →Warning signs not to ignore.
Pain when throwing
Especially on the inside of the elbow or in the shoulder.
Soreness that lingers
Still hurting the day after a game or practice.
Swelling or tenderness
Near the elbow or shoulder joint.
Losing velocity
Or suddenly not wanting to throw.
Pain in a growing athlete should always be checked. This page is for education, not diagnosis.
Develop now. Stay healthy later.
Assess
Strength and range of motion, side to side, so we start with a baseline.
Manage the load
Throwing volume and rest tracked against the plan through the season.
Build the right strength
Age-appropriate strength and arm care for a body that’s still changing.
Retest
As they grow, we remeasure and adjust before small problems get big.
Two ways to treat a growing arm.
Growth plates are the weakest point in a young athlete’s joints, so overuse shows up there first. How it’s treated decides whether it comes back.
“My son is a completely different athlete. He was fighting pain through a growth spurt and we didn’t know why. Shawn knew exactly how to train a young body the right way and kept him developing without breaking down.”
See their profiles.
Cody B.
“Cody sees Shawn weekly for preventative arm care and treatment of any minor pain or discomfort. Shawn works…”
Justin Gray
Start with an assessment.
You’ll leave with the numbers and a plan. Older throwers move on to Arm Care →