Advances in the management of medial elbow pain in baseball pitchers.

Overhead-throwing athletes, particularly baseball pitchers, subject their elbows to tremendous amounts of valgus stress during the throwing motion. As a result of this stress, baseball pitchers are at considerable risk for injury. The proper functioning and stability of the elbow depends upon the bony articulations and soft tissue structures. The stresses placed across the elbow joint with repetitive throwing can lead to injury. Although the majority of injuries encountered are overuse injuries, acute injuries can also occur. Proper and timely diagnosis and treatment of these throwers is critical, to allow for the athlete's successful return to competition.