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It’s spring and baseball season is underway. While the sport means mostly fun for young players hitting the field, the threat of an injury still looms. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 282,000 people under the age of 18 were treated in hospitals, doctors’ offices and emergency rooms for baseball-related injuries in 2010. Young players, parents, and coaches should be diligent in taking precautions to avoid injuries that could mean bench time, or even surgery later in life.

The most common baseball-related injuries are to the shoulder and elbow, and are often the result of overuse, according to Tony Wanich, an orthopedic surgeon at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. Pitchers are especially prone to getting hurt. Most of these injuries can be avoided with proper training and by taking the right preventative steps, Dr. Wandich says. Here are some of his tips for avoiding injury and staying healthy throughout the season:

• Be sure to warm up. Establish a consistent warm-up routine prior to any athletic activity, including stretching, where stretches are held for 30 seconds.

• Running is a key component in pre-activity warm-up and preseason conditioning, and is an important way for pitchers to develop endurance and stamina, and for position players to develop speed and agility.

• Strength training is essential for baseball players. Special attention needs to be paid to the rotator cuff, biceps, triceps, and forearm muscles.

• Take a break. The adage that practice makes perfect is not always the case in baseball. It is important to avoid pitching on consecutive days.

• Youth pitchers should focus on developing accuracy and control through good pitching mechanics. Focus on mastering the fastball before moving on to other types of pitches.

• Communication between players, parents and coaches is an easy way to identify problems before they become a more significant injury. Pain that does not improve with rest should be evaluated by a specialist.

• Follow the rules. Little League Baseball has established a set of pitch count guidelines, and guidelines regarding the amount of rest needed between games, which both coaches and parents should follow to avoid overuse injuries. Most injuries can be treated without surgery, if addressed early enough.

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