Shoulder Injuries in the Throwing Athlete
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When athletes throw repeatedly at high speed, significant stresses are placed on the anatomical structures that keep the humeral head centered in the glenoid socket.
Of the four phases that make up the pitching motion, the late cocking and follow-through phases place the greatest forces on the shoulder.
The rotator cuff and labrum are the shoulder structures most vulnerable to throwing injuries.
Looking at these findings KC GRIPZ has developed a strength training system to greatly reduce the chance of injury in throwing athlete. The entire system has been developed around deficiencies and muscle imbalances in throwing athletes. Building the posterior muscles of the body can help alleviate stress on the shoulder and elbow during the follow-through phase of throwing. Having more stability and mobility in the core allows the shoulder to work more efficiently and have less stress. Having good posture "being able to properly retract the scapula" puts less stress on the elbow. The more the big muscles in the posterior chain are engaged the less the small muscles have to work! SO, train your posterior chain and let the big muscles decelerate your throwing motion!
Of the four phases that make up the pitching motion, the late cocking and follow-through phases place the greatest forces on the shoulder.
- Late-cocking phase. In order to generate maximum pitch speed, the thrower must bring the arm and hand up and behind the body during the late cocking phase. This arm position of extreme external rotation helps the thrower put speed on the ball, however, it also forces the head of the humerus forward which places significant stress on the ligaments in the front of the shoulder. Over time, the ligaments loosen, resulting in greater external rotation and greater pitching speed, but less shoulder stability.
- Follow-through phase. During acceleration, the arm rapidly rotates internally. Once the ball is released, follow-through begins and the ligaments and rotator cuff tendons at the back of the shoulder must handle significant stresses to decelerate the arm and control the humeral head.
The rotator cuff and labrum are the shoulder structures most vulnerable to throwing injuries.
Looking at these findings KC GRIPZ has developed a strength training system to greatly reduce the chance of injury in throwing athlete. The entire system has been developed around deficiencies and muscle imbalances in throwing athletes. Building the posterior muscles of the body can help alleviate stress on the shoulder and elbow during the follow-through phase of throwing. Having more stability and mobility in the core allows the shoulder to work more efficiently and have less stress. Having good posture "being able to properly retract the scapula" puts less stress on the elbow. The more the big muscles in the posterior chain are engaged the less the small muscles have to work! SO, train your posterior chain and let the big muscles decelerate your throwing motion!