"Have you actually looked at Andrews findings?"
Many of them actually. I read everything referenced to him even though our son won't play another inning.
It is information. It is highly reliable information from the orthopedic surgeon who is with the very, very best in terms of seeing the damage sports like baseball can produce and correcting them like not many do with surgery. I would think the study showing a "properly" thrown curve ball (interesting how things get remembered) does not cause more issues for the elbow and shoulder than a properly thrown fastball lends credence and objectivity to what Dr. Andrews and his peer group are providing as guidance. I believe you will also find the article strongly supports the view that most curve balls are not properly thrown by youth pitchers.
But what do I know? Just seems to me that one might think too many of those on the way up dismiss the message and messenger.
I'm just reading this, so maybe it's been addressed. ASMI's studies did not, in any way, deal with "properly thrown" curveballs - only "self reported" curves. That means that even when included curves thrown with what some would consider bad mechanics, the curve ball was found to be a non-factor as compared to fatigue and overuse. Nissen, in fact, showed the curve to provide LESS stress than the fastball. I think it's time we lose the arguments concerning a "correctly thrown" curve versus a "poorly thrown" one. I think what you will find, though, is that the curve (and change, as well) is thrown with lower peak valgus angle (arm layback) than the fastball and this may well be a major contributor to elbow injuries. When trying to pinpoint pronation v. supination as a factor in elbow wear and tear, I believe we may be looking in the wrong place.
I guess I should have been even more precise and actually referenced some of the articles which use the phrase "thrown with proper mechanics."
Also, based on the 2014 published article by Yang, et.al. the youth curve ball is not fully exonerated.
http://ajs.sagepub.com/content...46514524699.abstract
"Nearly 70% of the sample reported throwing curveballs, which was associated with 1.66 (95% CI = 1.09-2.53) greater odds of experiencing arm pain while throwing."
You have to be careful with abstracts. I have the entire study if you want it (just PM me). The study was very careful to point out that while increased use of the curve did increase reports of pain, that this increase in reported pain did not apparently mean much since it did not coincide with any increase in injury risk.