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In-Season Shoulder Conditioning:
Helping Preventing Arm Injury

April 13, 2010
(click here for a 2-page .pdf of this newsletter)

There are 2 moments when the arm undergoes enormous stress during pitching:

1) At Maximum External Rotation:

MER


where elbow stress is equal to hanging a 40-lb. weight off of your wrist.

2) After Ball Release:

Reyes 20Chest 20to 20glove


where this 2001 study showed that the force pulling your shoulder out of socket is equal to your body weight.

Distraction


As a result, all of the rotator cuff muscles must contract simultaneously to prevent injury:

EMG

Follow through


Medicine Ball Training: Helping Prevent Arm Injury In-Season


While JUMPING ROPE is my #1 recommendation for injury prevention AND in-season conditioning, this 2006 study:

Ballistic 20Six 20Title

found significant increases in velocity with med ball exercises, 2 of which are here (email me if you'd like the entire study):

Med 20Ball 20Exercises


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Call (631-352-7654) or email (PitchingDoc@msn.com)
Dr. Arnold!