Numerous studies have shown with an increase in maximum velocity there is increased stress on the medial elbow
and increased risk for injury.
00‑00 There is a trend towards
velocity-based training in baseball pitchers. While increased stress on the UCL does not necessarily mean an
athlete will get injured, numerous studies have demonstrated a relationship between the upward trend in velocity
over time and an increase in UCL injuries.00‑00 The UCL ligament can adapt to the stress of throwing over a single season. Chalmers et al. showed that within a single season, the
UCL thickens and increases in laxity due to the stresses of
throwing, and that these effects are slightly reversed during
the offseason.00