If you're a runner, you may have heard of the Female Athlete Triad, a term once used to describe a combination of low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and bone health issues. However, our understanding of these conditions has evolved, giving rise to a broader concept: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). This condition is not just for elite female athletes; it affects athletes of all levels and genders. Let’s break down what RED-S is, why it's important, and how you can protect yourself as a runner.
Softball is a popular and engaging sport enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. While it provides excellent physical exercise and fosters teamwork, like any sport, it comes with its risks of injuries. Understanding the most common injuries in softball and how to prevent and treat them can help players stay safe and enjoy the game longer. In this blog, we’ll explore the top injuries suffered by softball players and provide tips on prevention and recovery.
While the game of golf has been around for several centuries, it hasn’t been til recently that the concept of a golfer training their bodies to help them with their sport has become more common. Since Tiger Woods took the game by storm almost 30 years ago, with his long drives and overall ability to dominate his competition, the world of golf fitness has also seen somewhat of an explosion. Now, golfers at almost all levels recognize that while working on their swing, chipping, and putting is important, it’s almost equally as important to put work into their bodies as well to ensure they can meet the demands of what today’s game asks of them. However, to the everyday golfer, there can still be a lot of uncertainty as to what training for the sport of golf looks like. This article aims to clarify that uncertainty and provide direction on how to dial in their gym sessions to help them on the course further.
Integrating weighted balls into a pitching routine can be an effective way to improve arm strength, velocity, and overall pitching performance. Here's a general guideline on how to incorporate weighted balls into your routine:
Consult with a professional: Before incorporating weighted balls into your routine, it's essential to consult with a pitching coach or a sports medicine professional who can assess your current abilities and provide guidance on the appropriate weight and progression for your specific needs.
Start with a warm-up: Begin your pitching routine with a thorough warm-up to prepare your muscles and joints for the increased stress of throwing weighted balls. Perform dynamic stretches, light cardio exercises, and arm-specific warm-up exercises to increase blood flow and flexibility.
Progress gradually: Begin with lighter weighted balls and gradually increase the weight over time. It's important not to start with weights that are too heavy, as this can lead to injury. A recommended progression might be to start with balls around 4-6 ounces and gradually increase to 8-10 ounces.
Focus on proper mechanics: Throughout your pitching routine, maintain proper pitching mechanics. The added weight of the balls may change the feel and timing of your delivery, so it's crucial to concentrate on maintaining a smooth and efficient motion. Work with a coach or use video analysis to ensure your mechanics are not compromised.
Incorporate specific drills: Use a variety of pitching drills that specifically target different aspects of your mechanics and arm strength. For example, you can incorporate long-toss drills with weighted balls to improve arm strength and distance, or use weighted balls during bullpen sessions to work on pitch command and velocity. However, ensure that you don't exclusively rely on weighted balls and include regular pitching with standard baseballs as well.
Pay attention to recovery: Pitching with weighted balls places increased stress on your arm and shoulder. Allow adequate time for recovery between sessions to avoid overuse injuries. Incorporate proper rest, stretching, and strengthening exercises for the shoulder and arm into your routine. Listen to your body, and if you experience any pain or discomfort, consult a professional.
Monitor progress: Track your progress over time by measuring factors like velocity, accuracy, and overall pitching performance. Keep a record of your pitching sessions and note any changes or improvements you observe. This feedback will help you make adjustments to your routine as needed.
Remember, integrating weighted balls into your pitching routine should be done carefully and progressively to minimize the risk of injury. Consulting with a professional and maintaining proper technique are crucial for safe and effective implementation.
Before I explain why, lets briefly get on the same page with a definition for Early Sport Specialization (ESS). Typically ESS refers to year-round (for at least 8 months) intensive training or competition in an organized sport by young athletes (<12 years of age) while excluding all other sports.
Injury Risk
One of the most studied problems with early specialization is increased injury risk compared to peers. The biggest factor contributing to this increased risk was participation in any individual sport for greater than 8 months of the year3. This is especially true in baseball pitchers where pitching for more than 8 months per year was correlated with a 500% increase in risk for Tommy John surgery. (I discuss this and other risk factors for UCL injury in my blog “Minimizing the Risk for UCL Injuries in Throwers” *hyperlink). Across all sports there is an increased injury risk of 1.81 times in highly specialized athletes compared to their multi-sport peers5.
Little League shoulder, also known as proximal humeral epiphysitis, is a common overuse injury that affects young baseball players, typically between the ages of 11 and 15. It is characterized by pain and discomfort in the shoulder joint, specifically in the upper arm bone (humerus) near the growth plate.
Little League shoulder, also known as proximal humeral epiphysitis, is a common overuse injury that affects young baseball players, typically between the ages of 11 and 15. It is characterized by pain and discomfort in the shoulder joint, specifically in the upper arm bone (humerus) near the growth plate.
Chances are that you have heard the term Little League elbow. Most have encountered
it in the media, during youth playing days, or from their own children. As a medical
provider specializing in youth throwing and overhead athletes (baseball, softball, tennis,
etc.), I’d like to provide some clarity around something that is commonplace yet poorly
understood. This article answers the questions: What is Little League elbow? What
causes it? How do you treat it? How is it prevented?
Chances are that you have heard the term Little League elbow. Most have encountered
it in the media, during youth playing days, or from their own children. As a medical
provider specializing in youth throwing and overhead athletes (baseball, softball, tennis,
etc.), I’d like to provide some clarity around something that is commonplace yet poorly
understood. This article answers the questions: What is Little League elbow? What
causes it? How do you treat it? How is it prevented?
What Is a Squat? A Physical Therapist’s Perspective
Are you a fitness fanatic? A weekend warrior who hits the gym once a week? Or are you someone who has never exercised before? Regardless of the answer, the reality is that you probably squat multiple times a day. Look no further if you have ever asked yourself: is squatting safe? Or Should I be squatting? The purpose of this blog is to provide you with an overview of what happens during a squat, how it is performed, and who should be doing it.
Is squatting difficult for you? Do you get low back pain with lifting, hiking, or just doing simple activities of daily living? Maybe you feel sore after sitting or driving? There could be a number of culprits here but it is likely that your hips are a major player in your problem. Hip flexibility is a very important component of any athletic training program and an even more important factor in living a comfortable and pain-free life.
Posterior shoulder tightness is extremely common among the general population and even more common among athletes. This is one those problems that can often be ignored for some time but potentially leads to poor shoulder function and pain in the future. Upon testing, even in an asymptomatic population, most people lack full internal rotation range of motion of their dominant shoulder. Lacking internal rotation of the shoulder can lead to compensatory movements which in turn create muscle tightness in the upper back around the shoulder blade. Poor shoulder joint range of motion and frequent compensation can eventually lead to shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tears, and a whole variety of chronic shoulder conditions. For these reasons it is important to assess shoulder rotation and quickly improve it if the motion is restricted.
This systematic review published in 2017 by Koya Mine, Takashi Nakayama, Steve Milanese, and Karen Grimmer explores 10 randomized controlled trials to assess the effectiveness of stretching on improving shoulder range of motion. Most of the articles assessed baseball and softball players but they also included volleyball players, racquet sports players, and even non-athletes both with and without shoulder pain. Every study included in the review found a statistically significant effect of stretching to improve shoulder internal rotation range of motion. Multiple modes of stretching were analyzed in the trials and each stretch and had slightly varying degrees of effectiveness based on a variety of patient traits. One study found frequent shoulder stretching to be tremendously beneficial for maintaining shoulder strength and avoiding injury for baseball and softball pitchers. Several of the studies found no major difference between stretches and some found major statistical differences. But overwhelmingly among the studies, it was found that stretching the posterior shoulder joint with a cross body stretch improved shoulder joint range of motion and quality of motion (when the stretch was done properly with the coaching of a physical therapist). The authors of this paper found moderate to strong evidence to support immediate and short term effects of stretching on shoulder tightness and internal range of motion.
#1 Range of motion restrictions are very common in the shoulder (especially the posterior shoulder capsule) and internal rotation is often limited.
#2 Poor range of motion in the shoulder can cause compensations and eventually tissue damage. These effects are often more noticeable and severe in overhead/throwing athletes.
#3 Stretching is an effective way to improve range of motion and in turn will allow for improved function over time and possible reduction of risk of future injury, especially for athletes.
So if you or someone you know is an athlete or just has stiffness in their back and shoulders, it is likely that a regular stretching routine would be highly valuable. The sooner you can address these issues, the easier and faster they are to improve. Physical therapists are excellent at assessing joint range and strength and creating individualized treatment plans to maximize your shoulder function and keep you moving at your best. Once you see a PT and get stretching you won’t believe how much better you will feel!
