Shoulder Performance & Rehab

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Stastics Don’t Lie

We don’t think it will happen to us - but it’s got to happen to someone - that’s just the way it is - statistics don’t lie.

A study led by Dr. Steven B. Cohen, assistant team physician for the Philadelphia Phillies and reported on the website Science Daily, revealed the following:

• 45% of baseball players who have shoulder or elbow surgery were able to return to their previous level or higher
• players who had elbow surgery were more likely to reach their previous level of play or higher than players who had shoulder surgery
• for AA, AAA or major league players, only 18% were able to make the comeback

Prevention is the Key to Long-Term Success

The study was also reported on in the Tucson Citizen, where Cohen and co-author of the study, Dr. Gerard Varlotta said, “stretching and strengthening exercises are key for preventing injuries in professional - and recreational - players.”

Take the time to warm-up and cool-down, stretch and strengthen your shoulder.  It could make all the difference for you and your shoulder.

Internal Rotation: The Old Fashioned Approach

Stretching the internal rotation of your shoulder without help can be a problem. Most people suggest using a towel, golf club or some other item to drape over your shoulder and grasp behind your back. Then, you lift gently with one arm while pulling the other arm upwards behind your back. This short video is a good demonstration of the “old” technique:

Internal Rotation: The New Approach = Multiple Stretches + Greater Versatility

After the responses that we received from sports medicine professionals during the American College of Sports Medicine conference and athletic trainers during the National Athletic Trainers Association annual convention, Scott and I realized that our current video doesn’t showcase the all the benefits of the Rotater. Specifically, you can:

• stretch internal rotation in many positions
• duplicate internal rotation exercises that normally require assistance
• control the degree of each stretch
• achieve a “true” passive stretch (your injured arm does not grasp anything, avoiding the introduction of unnecessary resistance)

Here is our newest video demonstrating the variety of ways the Rotater can be used to stretch internal rotation.

Which one would you prefer - the “old” towel or the new Rotater?

Shoulder Exercise for Baseball Players (or any Throwing Athlete)

I found this video of a shoulder exercise that I have never seen before at BaseballStrengthBlog.com. (It looks like their mother site, BaseballStrength.com, is undergoing some changes and you must now register to assess their resources – but that seems like a small price to pay for what appears to be a very informative web site.)

This exercise is unconventional - but looks promising. According to Coach Dan, this exercise is helpful for:

• Shoulder Stabilization
• Shoulder Safety
• Explosive Shoulder Power

He uses a 2 kg (a little less than 1 lb. 4.4 lbs - thanks Coach Dan) ball about the size of a basketball – I’m not sure where you’d find the ball that he’s using in the video, but I’m pretty sure a basketball would work just fine.

Be sure to pay attention to what he says in the video – this exercise is not a finger-tip dribbling movement, but an explosive arm movement that is generated by the shoulder.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.