“I am a Pitcher and Just Had Shoulder Surgery”
I’ll get right to the point. Just got an email this morning from a BioForce Faithful reader. This player just had shoulder surgery and wants to know about rehabbing going forward.
“Thanks for your great articles. I was just wondering if you any post surgery tips or exercises that you might be able to suggest. I just recently (Monday), had a shoulder surgery and will be beginning a normal physiotherapy in a couple weeks, but was wondering if you knew of any baseball exercises to help regain a pitching form. The surgery was a typical arthroscopic followed with a removal of some of the clavicle (same surgery that Hoffman had a few years ago) Thanks again, any tips would be helpful, but if you can’t, thank you anyways and keep up the good work.”
Rob U.
Rob, first off, I wish you a very speedy recovery. I can’t imagine the stress you have been under going through the whole ordeal. I would like to hear more about the cause of the injury. Thank you for sharing your experience with us and your BioForce family.
My first bit of advice, listen to your physical therapist and doctor. Do what they want you to do, and do it religiously. Work on the program exactly as they prescribe it to you.
I imagine they know you are a pitcher. I would start there. Make sure they know what you do and what you want. I would also ask them to help you make sure your entire rotator cuff area comes out extremely strong and flexible. Also balanced in strength from the front side to the back side. I would also ask them to measure your flexibility and strength right now and track how you progress. It’s great to follow the progress and know you are getting better.
Don’t stop with the shoulder area. Make sure all the supporting muscle groups to the shoulder are worked as well. Like the sub scapular area, lats, chest, etc. They are all related to each other.
Ask the question of the doctors and physical therapist their opinion why the injury happened.
My guess, if it is not a genetic problem, then it was conditioning related, mechanically related, or rest and recovery related (over-use and not enough rest). Or a combination of all three.
For all you healthy baseball players, the best way to avoid injury is to pre-hab. Be in great shape going into the season. Make sure your mechanics are in good order, and be sure you get enough rest in-between outings. Listen to your body. Our 12-Minute Shoulder and Elbow Endurance Solution DVD is a great in-season strength and flexibility management program. Complete it once a week to maintain your strength and flexibility. Remember, do it after you throw, like the next day, and then make sure you have plenty of rest before you throw the next time…I would say at least 24-48 hours.
Need help with your mechanics? Our Explosive and Athletic Pitcher DVD talks about efficient mechanics and you can adapt the drills to help you focus on what you want. Control, efficiency, consistency in your pitching, whatever you want.
Rob, I wish you a speedy recovery and listen to your supporting cast. I would like to hear about your progress…as I’m sure our readers would like to too!
Train Like a Champion Today!
Bill Mooney
P.S. Here are those links to the 12-Minute Shoulder and Elbow Endurance Solution DVD and the Explosive and Athletic Pitcher DVD.
P.S. One way to help with your hitting and switch-hitting is to get the body better prepared for the baseball swing. Check out our Pure Power Training for Hitters and Pitcher DVD. Who else wants to develop more power?
June 20th, 2009 at 8:02 am
My son Matt had labrum surgery about a year ago ( Matt is a catcher ). It is almost like he has to learn how to throw all over again. He developed some really bad throwing habits prior to the surgery to compensate for the injury. He catches at the college level and is getting very frustrated that its not coming right back like riding a bike. Do you have any specific drills or tapes or any advice. We would greatly appreciate any input.
Best personal regards, Dennis McDonough
July 9th, 2009 at 11:29 am
I am appalled at the numerous unnecessary number of young baseball players age 18 and under who have had or are preparing to have shoulder and elbow surgeries etc. although I am not surprised, there simply are not enough schooled, experienced and pitching knowledgeable baseball teachers out here in the baseball community which covers all age groups and levels of baseball including pro. baseball of which I was very fortunate to have been able to play minor league baseball as a youngster up through and into major league level, I am also appalled at the number of so called coaches at every level and age group who do not spend time studying and learning how to teach the necessary basic team aspects,and the individual skills that need to be learned from each individual player, I was explained to by Johnny Hopp, a fifteen year major league veteran who I played minor league ball for that for me to be an excellent ,knowledgeable teacher, which comes first and coach I would need to be able to help each one of my athletes at any given time mentally and/or physically with whatever they need help with and to do so I would need to acquire my information from experienced and knowledgeable teaching type of people such as him and others who are experienced and knowledgeable teachers. pitchers in particular desparately need an experienced, knowledgeable, teacher who can teach them proper mechanics and how to pitch, not just throw the ball up there in the general direction of their target, pitchers need to learn how to use their whole body starting from the ground up to alleviate as much arm tension and throwing abuse as possible, arm problems come from improper throwing mechanics combined with improper warm ups, improper bull pens or none at all,only throwing just prior to game time, and again, not knowing how to use the whole body instead of the arm only, short striding, most people are under the impression that arm and overall strength is where velocity comes from [NOT SO] proper Pitching, Hitting in particular should be executed starting from the ground up which is how to energetically, generate the necessary rythm,momentum and power into the forward throwing or swinging direction one is moving towards, I continually observe many improperly or uninstructed pitchers of all age groups and levels who stand on their crane up fore ever, walk off of the rubber,start the stride then hesitate the foot, stutter step the stride foot, ,short step, then, low and behold now it is time to really get that arm going, then, “ouch” I just jerked my elbow and shoulder out of their sockets, why, what do I do now? To all potential pitchers and parents of these people get yourself a competent,experienced,knowledgeable pitching teacher who can teach you the proper mechanics and how to properly pitch starting from the ground up and these arm problems will diminish considerably, if you cannot find such a teacher on site then listen here to Bill Mooney,Listen to him anyway and learn all you can.