Every year, Major League Baseball spends more than $1.5 billion on pitchers—five times more than the salary of every NFL quarterback combined. Pitchers are the game’s lifeblood. Their import is exceeded only by their fragility. One tiny band of tissue in the elbow, the ulnar collateral ligament, is snapping at unprecedented rates, leaving current big league players vulnerable and the coming generation of baseball-playing children dreading the three scariest words in the sport: Tommy John surgery. -The Arm by Jeff Passan

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Ice treatment is most commonly used for acute injuries. ... Ice packs can help minimize swelling around the injury, reduce bleeding into the tissues, and reduce muscle spasm and pain. Ice packs are often used after injuries like ankle sprains have occurred.

Heat therapy, also known as thermotherapy, is the use of heat in treatment. Applying heat to an area increases the blood flow, bringing along proteins and oxygen. ... This therapy method is great to decrease joint stiffness, reduce pain and inflammation, and relieve muscle spasms.

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