Baseball-related hand injuries are very common. Baseball players are susceptible to certain types of upper extremity injuries due to the nature of the sport. Many of these types of injuries are the result of sudden impact or overuse.
It’s important for the players, coaches, and even parents of the players to understand the different types of injuries that may result from playing. Knowing what types of sports injuries players can sustain and how they can be best treated can prevent worsening injury and even future injury.
4 common hand injuries that baseball players suffer
- Metacarpal fractures — Many baseball players get metacarpal fractures in their nondominant hands, as the result of a baseball striking their hand. It generally can take a few weeks to be able to return to play for those with this injury.
- Hamate hook fracture — This type of fracture most frequently occurs in batters. The fracture often occurs when a swinging bat hits the hamate bone in the hand. It can take six to eight weeks to be able to return to play with this type of injury.
- Finger proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint sprains — This type of sprain is also known as a finger jam injury and involves the finger joints. In baseball, sprains like these frequently aren’t given as much importance and healing time as they should.
- Mallet finger — This type of sprain is less common than PIP sprains. It involves the tendon near the end joint of a finger. When you have a mallet finger, you are not able to straighten your finger out.
How can physical therapy help players with these types of baseball-related hand injuries?
If you or your baseball player has sustained one of these injuries, physical therapy can be beneficial for several reasons. PT treatment can help players avoid re-injury that could elongate healing time. They can also help promote injury stability and even alleviate pain and discomfort. If a player has an upper extremity injury that requires surgical treatment, physical therapists can guide them through the rehabilitation process and optimize mobility.
Schedule a physical therapy appointment to treat your baseball-related hand injury
Don’t let a lingering hand injury prevent you from returning to play. The physical therapists of Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy understand how hand injuries from baseball can affect your performance and quality of life.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a baseball-related injury that is affecting your sports performance and day-to-day life, contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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