My DD's trainer at SC has stated that there is no study showing that ice provides any real benefit. That said, if it makes you feel better then do it. For my DD, she has never iced since going there and is always ready to go the following day. She has found that deep tissue massage before and after works very well.
Daughter was not a pitcher but blew out her shoulder and had to have it reconstructed just before her freshman year of college. I can tell you her orthopedic surgeon told her in no uncertain terms, if she threw she was to ice her shoulder. He didnt care if she only threw the ball 2 or 3 times, she was to ice her shoulder. And his second rule was, know your limits and do not exceed them, EVER!.
DD injured her shoulder Sophomore year of HS. The Orthopedist told her to ice at the end of the day after pitching. She ices now after every game, but I think it's on her own and the trainers aren't requiring it.
DD injured her shoulder Sophomore year of HS. The Orthopedist told her to ice at the end of the day after pitching. She ices now after every game, but I think it's on her own and the trainers aren't requiring it.
My dd only ices when she has discomfort. In 8+ years of pitching that has been a handful of times. If your dd has pain after every time out then you need to take a hard look at her mechanics or at how much she is pitching in a day/week. However, if you ice as a matter of routine, do not ice between games where she might be pitching again. It's a end of day only thing.
FWIW - Jennie Finch would ice for an extended period of time before a game. The cold would actually increase circulation apparently making her warmup more effective.