Should Pitchers Ice After Games?

Posted on Wednesday May, 6 2009 | 0 Comments

Opinions vary widely when the topic of icing after games comes up. Most amateur baseball players witness pitchers at the major league level icing after a game. Their thoughts go something like this, “if icing is done at the major league level that means all pitchers should ice after games.” Some people claim that icing aids in recovery, mainly because they see professional pitchers on television doing it. In reality icing might be detrimental to arm health, even for major league pitchers.

One major argument against icing is that it can shrink blood vessels with prolonged use. Cold temperatures restrict blood flow throughout the tiny blood vessels in your arm. This is obviously a problem since your arm depends on rapid blood flow to function optimally. Cold temperatures may also cause blood vessels to shrink with long term use. This is also negative since large blood vessels supply the arm with energy during the throwing motion.

Another argument against icing has to do with the body’s natural healing process. After ice is administered, blood flows rapidly to the spot of application – usually the shoulder or elbow. This process occurs until the ice overwhelms the heat in the blood causing flow to slow down. Eventually blood can no longer reach the area affected, which is a bad thing. This disrupts the body’s healing process and slows down natural recovery.

The main positive focus for proponents of icing is the reduction of inflammation in the arm. For people susceptible to tendonitis and other arm related problems icing may be positive. Just make sure to keep your icing time length reasonable (8-10 minutes). Pitchers in rehabilitation after arm surgery should also consider the use of ice to reduce inflammation at the point of injury. Pitchers who have hurt their arms during a live game should obviously ice as well.

Much scientific research still needs to be conducted before the baseball world figures out exactly what level of positive or negative effects icing has on the arm. Until then the best option is likely to do absolutely nothing after your pitching appearance until the next day. Let the body’s natural healing process take over until the next morning. Then be prepared for some long distance jogging or exercise on an elliptical bike to get the blood flowing back into your arm. Elliptical exercise machines allow both your legs and arms to pump at the same time. This ensures blood is flowing in your arms as well as your legs.

Why Not Jog or Bike Right After the Game?

The pitching motion is naturally violent due to the forces applied to the arm when throwing a baseball. The throwing motion done repeatedly over the course of a baseball game fatigues muscles like the rotator cuff. Every time a pitcher throws a baseball tiny micro-tears result. This process is the same thing that occurs during weight lifting and other strength training, but the muscles susceptible to injury are much smaller. These muscles need a "cooling off" period to recharge before further physical activity should be done - so does the rest of your body. Although it will usually never hurt you to excercise right after the game, you should consider giving your body a short rest. The pitching motion is already taxing enough on the muscles involved in throwing.

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