Ice after pitching?

I have also heard that there has been a change in in the way they approach icing down.

I believe the concept is that healing is promoted by blood flow. As long as there isn't serious damage with accompanying swelling then ice is going to restrict bloodflow and delay healing.

Worst thing I ever saw was a 12yo pitcher using ice between innings while pitching.

quote:

Worst thing I ever saw was a 12yo pitcher using ice between innings while pitching.

That's a great way to injure yourself in a hurry.

CADad,
I had always believed that ice restricts blood flow and would hinder healing but I read an article that contradicts that theory. I’m not very knowledgeable but it explained that after icing for a period of time the body INCREASES blood flow to the “iced” area to counteract the damage the ice could cause to the tissue, therefore it promotes healing of that area. While I normally don’t venture into sport medicine, I do know a little about ice. I know that ice does wonders for a big glass of tea on a hot summer’s day.
Fungo

I say Ice, it promotes healing. 20 minutes. Run Run Run to get the lactic acid out of the joints too.

CV

I've heard both theories and do not profess to know which is correct. But I have to agree with FUNGO about a glass of tea. Of course he probably meant sweet tea being down in TN.

We believe in ice but run after we are finished with our mound work and then, we have a trainer "milk their arm." That is, a set of stretches etc. to enable their arm to recover quickly. I am a firm believer that if you can't ice, STILL RUN. That running is one of the best things you can do in my opinion.

Fungo,
Interesting point. I'd never heard that before but it makes sense. Ideally one would use ultrasound to promote bloodflow also.

Take a look at a major league pitcher, after he has pitched, during interviews and such. Every single one of them is icing their arms. I have never heard anything about icing being bad for the arm.

On a visit last fall we met the trainer for the fitness center and he told us they let the pitchers decide what they feel most comfortable with. Some prefer to ice, some prefer to run. Between innings I do believe, if cold they use arm warmers. However, their pregame warmup is very precise, no deviations.

I have heard that some ML teams do not ice their pitchers, but this is secondhand information and may not be correct.

We run, but typically dont ice. Like CoachB said we also milk or massage the arm and shoulders. We only ice if the kid usually gets soreness the next day. Depends on the pitcher. We did'nt have a sore arm or have a kid miss a start the entire summer.

Thanks for the feedback. I have found a lot information supporting the use of ice and have yet to find any that demonstrate why one shouldn't. It is true that some teams do not. For example, how the thread started. That doesn't mean it is a good idea. Just one side note for any youngsters that may be thinking about this. Do not put ice on a muscle while you are still playing. You can tighten up the area and easily pull that muscle. Wait until the game is over, then ice.

During our last visit to orthopedic surgeon re: acl reconstruction, we asked about ice after pitching. Dr. confirmed Fungo's position that ice for 20 minutes will increase blood flow as body tries to re-heat area. The combination of "milking", then running, then ice routine will most assuredly speed arm strength recovery.

Alot of people do not have access to it but ultrasounds help me alot.

Sorry to jump in so late on this topic. I am a Certified Athletic Trainer (and teach the scientific prinicples behind ice and other modalities), and have seen ice used, and not used, after pitching, with success both ways. What ice does, is:
1. Slow down nerve conduction velocity (numbing and decreasing pain).
2. Slows down the local metabolism, meaning the tissues do not require as much oxygen, so if there are "microtears" in the area, with less oxygen available, then the ice will help minimize tissue damage.
3. Decrease muscle spasm.
4. Ice does NOT appear, as evidenced by the latest research over the past 5 years, INCREASE blood flow after 20-25 minutes, as ONE research paper (15+ years ago) indicated.

The controversy involves whether one believes if there is appreciable tissue damage during pitching (which ice WILL help in), or is the soreness due to an increase in lactic acid and metabolites in the area. In that case, a nice 2 mile cool down run will do much better than icing after pitching. Of course, Nolan Ryan was known to ice while riding the exercise bike for 20-30 minutes after a game.

My personal preference, no ice, unless there is a particularly heavy game, or unless there is an involved coniditon the player is pitching through. Othewise, "whatever floats your boat."

JT, I am surprised by your response on lactic acid. Lactic acid is a byproduct of anaerobic actvity not repetitive motion. Lactic acid is released when the body operates for extended periods of time beyond its anaerobic threshold (which is 80-90% of MHR). Lactic acid does not build up in joints either but is produced by muscles and released into the bloodstream.
As an instructor and a CAT, I am surprised by that response. We are obviously on the internet at this time, go ahead and type in lactic acid in your search engine.
As far as the icing, I leave it up to individuals. The biggest thing I have seen is kids leave ice on for extended periods of time w/ no supervision.
I have seen other athletes who do un-natural repetitive motion sports not ice (ie, rowers, football QB's, tennis players), so who knows who is right.

Baseball is a highly ANAEROBIC activity, in which, as you know, results in lactic acid build-up. In particular, research indicates that pitching relies on 80% ATP-PC and 20 Anaerobic Glycolysis. Thus, lactic acid CAN build up, and getting into aerobic metabolism after pitching (either a run or stationary bike) WILL help the lactic acid break down.

We could both site studies proving our point here. As a persons VO2 Max improves, it lessens the amount of lactic acid produced by the body. My whole body is explosive in pitching, so why do I not get lactic acid build up in my drive leg? If lactic acid is such a problem how come after throwing BP everyday I am not overcome with lactic acid soreness?
My point is that the whole lactic acid thing is not why we ice nor why we run, and not as huge a thing in pitching as everyone makes it out to be.

OK, Bulldog, I see your point of view. Sounds like we both agree that icing is simply a matter of what works. Certainly, it won't hurt anything.