Broken Middle Finger on Pitching Hand - Recovery Tips after 4 to 6 weeks

[b-dad]

13 YO DD broke her middle finger on her pitching hand 4 weeks ago tomorrow. She was fielding ground balls off the dirt before a practice game and the klutz got her hand in the glove before the ball, obviously her finger lost. She isn't the sharpest tool in the shed either, she fielded the 8 spot and batted through the practice game. She says she had to play because "Dad, my team only had 9 players". Never mind it was a practice game. To top that decision, she than decided to play wiffle ball in gym the next day in school. We took her to the Dr after school, thinking it was just a jammed finger. Glad we did, it was definitely broken. She saw a specialist three days later who said she should not play for 3 to 4 weeks and can than come back as she feels she is able. They custom made a removable split that covered the middle bone, last knuckle, and the end of her finger. Anyway, keeping on topic, the Dr described her break as a mildly displaced lateral fracture of her distal phalanges on her middle finger. Basically, it was a fairly clean break at the very end of the last bone in her finger. The fingernail was lifted up slightly, and fairly bloody, but didn't separate from her finger.

Now after that unnecessarily long lead in, she is at the end of her 4 weeks. The finger is still to sensitive to throw full overhand so we have not started working back into pitching practice.

I am wondering if anyone had a similar injury and how recovery went. Also, this week she has started doing some things without the ball like her drills and full pitching motion. I am thinking she is probably a few weeks away from being able to practice again. In the meantime, do any of you have any thoughts on things she could/should work on during this time off. Even if you don't have experience with a broken finger, what about just being unable to practice for up to six weeks. What are some good ideas to quickly get back to pitching form?

 

[LAdad]

Sorry, no experience with broken bones. However, I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of practice. My DD has gone as long without pitching more than once, but has always been able to pick it up again quickly. Plus, if she had any bad habits during pitching, the break (no pun intentended) may be just the thing to start with a clean slate. I do hope you had the doctor check that everything is healing ok.

 

[Lozza]

I think you've got it perfect with training without the ball. It's not ideal but it keeps it up.

Good luck, fingers can be quite hard to come back from!

 

[starsnuffer]

Just holding the ball will strengthen her fingers. Have her hold it when she's watching TV, gripping as she normally would. Ask her specialist if there is any physical therapy she can do. . squishy balls, finger exercises, ect.

Lots of squats and lunges can never hurt.

Glad she's ok and making a recovery!

-W

 

[Amy in AZ.]

Walking would be good and she can run, if she doesn't jar her finger.

 

[halskinner]

Had line drives bend my little fingers back and crack the small knuckles on the little fingers several times, pitching thumb once. Never the middle finger. MOM: "Why did we spend all that money on your glove IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA USE IT?"Have her try pitching with a softball sized wiffle ball, the one with the holes in it. Should drop the pressure on it that a heavier softball would make. If it is too much weight, she will know real quick.

Get well quick!

 

[b-dad]

Thanks to all for the replies. We have had her grip a softball while sitting around doing nothing much else. We also have some squeeze balls around and will have her squeeze that some also. She has been taking the splint off more now and slowing working it back into normal use, however she favors it by keeping the finger more straight than the rest.

Great idea throwing the softball sized wiffle ball. We'll give it a try and see how that goes. Also have some jugs lite flight balls around that I think are a little heavier than the wiffle ball so if the wiffle ball works out fine we might give the lite flight ball a go.

 

[Lozza]

Great idea throwing the softball sized wiffle ball. We'll give it a try and see how that goes. Also have some jugs lite flight balls around that I think are a little heavier than the wiffle ball so if the wiffle ball works out fine we might give the lite flight ball a go.

Brilliant! That way it works her back up to the full strength.

 

[BoardMember]

Get her one of these...........

There's no match for rehab/strength/grip/coordination training.......And it's FUN!

Dyna Flex International, for sports and fitness, carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, tendonitis, wrist pain and grip strength.

I used one of these thoughout my pitching career, and recommend it for all my pitching students..........

 

[Jojo]

b-dad, my DD crushed her pinky finger on a play at 3rd base her senior yr in high school.
She had to have surgery and get it pinned back together. Because some of the bone chips were too small, her finger ended up a little crooked.

And like your DD, mine went back into the field in right, then swung her bat one handed and RBI'd the winning run.

Because she had a scholarship, her orthopedist was a sports specialist and ordered intense PT.

You should have seen her whining like a baby over a pinky finger! Others there had broken legs and ACL injuries.

She had heat therapy, where she put her hand in something like warm nut shells, then she moved her hand around inside of it.
She used stress balls, and silly putty to squeeze. A rubber band to keep it bent (aided in stretching) then released it. Then she had to do physical "pinky pushups" Where she pointed it straight and curled it back in.
After she was cleared, we just did light throwing until she felt better about it.

After she was cleared it was 6 weeks later that she pitched her first college game. Closed the game, 3 batters, 2 K's, one pop in the in field.