So, one of my biggest pet peeves as a PT is seeing athletes hurt as a result of poor coaching and training. \u00a0Overuse injuries provide lots of clients for my practice. \u00a0While this is good for business, I would really like to help prevent these injuries. \u00a0I need your help. \u00a0It all starts with education and a willingness on the part of health and fitness professionals to advocate strongly for our young athletes.<\/p>\n
Consider the following scenario: a 14 y\/o freshman left-handed pitcher presents for rehab to recover from Little League Shoulder. He was hurt on the second day<\/strong> of his high school’s fall conditioning program. \u00a0He was being forced to throw in excess of 200 feet. \u00a0His exact words were, “I was sore after day one, but I felt my shoulder explode on the second day of the program.” \u00a0Think this is a coincidence? \u00a0Hardly.<\/p>\n Another player from the same school (a sophomore right hander) is also in my clinic recovering from an avulsion fracture of his medial epicondyle that he too suffered on the second day<\/strong> of the same throwing workout. \u00a0I emailed the left-handed pitcher’s father with details about throwing biomechanics and how they decline with long distance throwing. \u00a0I also expressed my concern over the coach’s aggressive throwing program. \u00a0The father emailed back and said he too disagreed with the throwing program. \u00a0However, the coach simply told him his son had “not been properly coached” prior to getting to his program. \u00a0Are you kidding me? \u00a0Look at the images below to appreciate the type of damage done by overzealous throwing programs.<\/p>\n\n\t\t