Baseball injuries part 3

Welcome to the final article in our baseball series for the month of June!

If you missed part 1 or part 2, follow the hyperlinks to find out what we previously posted!

The third common throwing injury is a condition called scapular dyskinesis. This occurs when the shoulder blade is not moving fluidly with the arm. Without our shoulder blade moving, we can reach just above shoulder height. The movement of the arm and shoulder blade together is what allows us to reach above our head. If this ‘rhythm’ is not in sync, it can cause defects in a thrower’s mechanics and also cause impingement in the joint as a thrower tries to force them into the correct arm slot.

 

Finally, the most preventable throwing injury is caused by overuse. Often pitchers get themselves in trouble when they fail to rest in between starts. By throwing with fatigued muscles a player is at risk of decreased shoulder stabilization which can cause injury to both their shoulder and elbow. It is imperative that a pitcher fully recovers before making the subsequent start.If you notice a loss of speed or distance, this is a sign of fatigue. 

Baseball season is enjoyable for players, coaches, parents and fans. By keeping the shoulder and elbow strong and pain free that enjoyment will last the whole summer. Have questions? Leave us a post!

Baseball injuries part 2

Here is part 2 of 3 regarding Baseball injuries:

Elbow injuries also get a lot of attention. Most people have heard of the dreaded Tommy John procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament is reconstructed. This procedure commonly sidelines a player for a full year if not longer. When the stress of the throwing motion is not able to be absorbed by the shoulder joint, the next stop for this stress is the elbow. Most often a throwers elbow pain has been caused by one of 2 things. Either he or she has weakness in his or her rotator cuff or they may have mechanic issues which can stress the elbow in unneeded ways.

Please follow this link to see our most recent rotator cuff and shoulder stabilizer strengthening article on injury prevention. 

Shoulder stabilization exercises for your workout

One of OSR's Physical Therapists was recently published on the National Academy of Sports Medicine blog. Read the article and learn shoulder stability exercises here!

Baseball and softball injuries part 1: Rotator cuff and ulnar collateral ligaments

With both baseball and softball seasons in full swing it’s time to re-visit throwing injuries and safety. There are several different throwing injuries that can occur. My goal for this series of posts for June and July is to touch on the most common and how to treat and prevent those injuries.

The shoulder injury which garners the most attention is most likely the rotator cuff tear. The rotator cuff consists of 4 muscles which help to keep the ball of the joint in the socket. These muscles are vital to throwing motion (and everyday movement) to stabilize the shoulder. Rotator cuff strengthening is necessary to avoid tears. Another important function of the rotator cuff is to absorb the energy of the throwing motion in order to avoid stresses on other parts of the arm such as the elbow.

 


Elbow injuries get a lot of attention in throwing sports. Most people have heard of the dreaded Tommy John procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament is reconstructed. This procedure commonly sidelines a player for a full year if not longer. When the stress of the throwing motion is not able to be absorbed by the shoulder joint, the next stop for this stress is the elbow. Most often a throwers elbow pain has been caused by one of 2 things. Either he or she has weakness in his or her rotator cuff or they may have mechanic issues which can stress the elbow in unneeded ways.



Interested in more information? Leave us a post! Also, check back next week for the 2nd of 4 parts in our throwing injury series!

Eccentric Calf Exercise with a Ball

Last week we on the Blog discussed Achilles tendinitis and eccentric calf raises on a step. Here is a variation that can be performed with a ball. If your sport/art is dance, you can also perform this turned out or with your pointe shoes on.

Achilles tendon pain

Do you have Achilles tendinopathy? As we get back outdoors to do more walking, running, and activity in the spring and summer, this common condition may become more provoked with greater use.



The British Journal of Sports Medicine and Science suggests beginning management with the following techniques:
1. Get an evaluation from a qualified provider
2. Night splinting has been effective in many cases
3. Eccentric calf exercises have been effective in many cases.

Here is a video of how eccentric calf exercises are performed:

Not sure where to begin? Need a sports Physical Therapist or Athletic Trainer to help? OSR Physical Therapy offers free consults to help you get moving in the right direction. They also offer full service Athletic Training and Physical Therapy services to help with your rehabilitation.