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Physical Therapy Solutions |
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Athlete’s Corner |
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Baseball Players Every coach will preach that keeping the front shoulder closed helps to keep the ball down while increasing velocity. Biomechanics meets performance. “Flying open early” significantly increases the stresses on the anterior shoulder and inside of the elbow. This repetitive stress increases the demands on the surrounding muscles, and when volume increases, breakdown can follow. For instance, in adults the ulnar collateral ligament can tear, or in the younger player little league elbow or growth plate fractures can be the end result. “Power comes from the hips”, but so does stability. If the right glute muscle on a right-handed pitcher isn’t perfect, the balance point in the crane position will suffer. Similarly if the shoulder blade muscles are not properly doing their job, inability to keep the hand on top of the ball probably isn’t a byproduct of you or your child not listening, but rather a muscle imbalance. When necessary we use slow-motion video analysis to pinpoint various issues and work our way backwards to find the root cause of the problem. We are not pitching coaches; rather we work closely with player, coach, athletic trainer, doctor, and parent to coordinate a safe and healthy return to sport. From phone calls, to sharing video to tap into their experience, getting everyone on the same page is crucial. Rest is relative. Often we have to shut down the arm from throwing to allow the inflammation to come down, but that is the perfect time to funnel the players’ focus into aggressively treating the problem. We are not a sports enhancement facility, but proper biomechanics will enhance your abilities, and more importantly allow you to enjoy your love of the game pain free.
Below you will find a number of articles and links to help you be informed. In 2003 I attended the baseball meeting of the American Sports Medicine Institute. Team physicians, athletic trainers, and pitching coaches from Major League Baseball and major Division I college baseball programs came together to chart a course to slow down the trend of throwing injury in adolescents. Anecdotal evidence was consistent across the group of 700. The challenge was to prove these trends through scientific based research.
Highlights include: Dr. Joe Chandler, team physician for the Atlanta Braves. John Smoltz, Tom Glavin, and Greg Maddux, among other major league pitchers did not throw breaking pitches before the age of fourteen, nor would they allow their kids to. Conclusion: Research is mounting, but due to growth plates and skeletal maturity, kids should not attempt breaking pitches until they can shave. (Generally around 14 years of age) Dr. Chandler’s “Pitching in Youth Baseball”
Dr. James Andrews, Co-Founder of the Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, medical director for numerous sports teams, and a leading pioneer in sports medicine. Dr. James Andrews, who has performed countless procedures on professional athletes and is considered one of the foremost authorities on the overhead athletes shoulder, states as of 2003 no baseball player that he has operated on prior to them already being a professional, has made it to the big leagues.
Little League Baseball Little League Baseball has agreed to regulate the following pitching guidelines beginning in 2007. The local sports medicine physicians of Tuckahoe Orthopaedic, West End Orthopaedic, and Advanced Orthopaedic fully support this injury prevention initiative Little League Pitch Count Regulation Guide
Additional Resources Concerns on Little League Elbow Elbow & Shoulder Pain in Youth Little League Elbow —Journal of Practical Management USA Baseball Position Statement Risk Factors for Shoulder & Elbow Injuries UCL Reconstruction in High School
Slow Motion Video Analysis · objectively track progress · share information with coaches and parents · provide you with real-time feedback |
