ICE!!!

A question was asked yesterday concerning icing young kids arms. Yes, icing can take place at any age. Basically you are trying to decrease the inflammation that can occur after throwing a multitude of pitches. However, there are some do's and dont's. Never ice longer than 15 minutes with an "ice pack". No more than 10 minutes is using ice applied for instance with a frozen dixie cup applied to the elbow or shoulder and ran in a circular motion. This penetrates quicker and deeper into the joint. Never ice a child after pitching and then move them into another position. Ice should only be applied when throwing is complete for the day. The sooner the better, but you would be doing more harm "tighten" the arm up with ice and send them back out to throw. Kid's will throw anything they can get their hands on, from a ball to rocks on the ground, so they need to be monitored as best as possible. Icing is just another way to help create longevity in a child's arm. Do you change the oil in your car on a regular basis?