Icing arms?

I told you guys I would have some basic questions so here goes. I have read enough to know my girls (pitchers) will need to ice their arms after every outing. I know one of my girls has the "sleeve" that you keep in the cooler for this. But for girls that don't is there a proper way to apply the ice. I know crushed ice in a ziploc baggy will conform to the shape of the body and I know to have some type cloth between the skin and baggy. So do you just put that on the back of the shoulder, on top, in front, all three or what. Also wondering if the elbow will need icing. This will be my first year as a team coach so I have not destroyed any arms yet and I want to make sure I do my best to keep it that away. Thanks for any tips or advice.

 

Icing

I am not a pitching coach but DD has been pitching since she was 9, she's now 17 and we have never used ice(on her arm that is), ever. She has also never had a pitching injury. If proper mechanics are used and they stay in the plain with the arm, they should not get sore. At least this has been my experience. Her pitching coach always stressed proper mechanics. If it hurts, you are doing something wrong.

 

Prevention will pay off!

Good mechanics or bad mechanics, you should always ice the shoulder and the elbow, especially when they start to throw the 'junk'. This will especially help prevent tendonitis from 'repetitive' motion. Don't wait for an injury to ocurr before you start icing. The girls might complain about it, but it is worth the argument.

 

I agree with SIFan. My dd has been pitching for 5 years and she has never iced her arm or elbow. Never was a need for this as there has never been in pain with her arm

 

My DD has never iced, nor does her pitching coach advocate icing. Yes, I've seen some well known college level players ice, and I've wondered why.

 

Recent Studies have shown...

that many injuries are starting to surface because of overuse...too many innings. Injuries that were never a concern are starting to be more of a concern and if icing helps prevent even one injury it is well worth the time and effort.

I require all of my pitchers to ice after a game. We use a zip lock bag or a used ice bag and apply the ice over clothing, securing it with stretch wrap. Leave it on for 20 - 30 minutes.

You can buy 6" wide x 150' long stretch wrap with a dispensing handle at Office Depot or any packing supply store. The single rolls are expensive, but if you know someone that sells packaging supplies commercially you can buy it by the case and save some money.

I hope this helps answer your question TigersCoach.

 

Why Would Anybody Want To Ice ??

WHAT ICE DOES
Ice initially constricts local blood vessels and decreases tissue temperature. Overall, ice will:
Decrease inflammation
Decrease pain
Speed nutrients to the area
Promote healing
Decrease swelling
Decrease tissue damage
Decrease muscle spasm
4 STAGES OF ICING
During treatment with ice, you will go through the following stages:
Cold
Burning
Aching
Numbness
To be clear, icing is not recommended because it feels great when you’re doing it, but because it is a proven tool in our arsenal against pain and inflammatory conditions! I found early on with clients that this is a point on which you have to beat the poor horse to death several times over. I would direct clients to ice 3 to 5 times a day in their treatment plan. On follow-up, I would ask how many times a day they iced. Some would say “I didn’t ice. It didn’t feel good. I used heat instead.” I had to mentally excuse myself to beat my head against the wall. Heat tends to feed pain and inflammation, no matter how good you think it feels in the moment.

Guru

 

I agree that Ice:
constricts local blood vessels.
decreases tissues temperature (of COURSE, duh).
Decrease inflammation
Decrease pain
Decrease swelling
Decrease muscle spasm

However, I'd like to see studies documenting the following:
Speed nutrients to the area
Promote healing
Decrease tissue damage

Speeding nutrients to the area ain't happening when there is decreased blood flow. That happens when you increase blood flow. And one of the most recognized ways of doing that is to apply heat.

Promote healing: dittol

Decrease tissue damage: over icing can CAUSE tissue damage. I'd like to know the physiology involved here.

I've seen the article by a "Laurel J. Freeman" which seems to be the basis of your points above, quoted a whole bunch, but I see a bunch on contraditions in it, and no other authority agreeing.

No argument about putting ice on a swelling joint or bruise, but on a muscle just because it's been used? I want better (or at least more) reasoning.

 

Ask Al Gore !!

Google It you have access........................ DUH !!!

 

Other opinions (for and against)

http://www.stevenellis.com/steven_ellis_the_complete/2006/03/should_pitchers.html

http://www.thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_icing.htm

http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-pitching-paul-reddick-on-icing/

http://www.pitching.com/articles/view/the-myth-of-baseball-pitchers-icing-why-ice-is-not-nice/