Baseball Season is in Full Swing
Lets Play Ball….. It is that time of year where outdoor sports are on the top of the list for
sports fans of all ages. Getting out on the playing field to participate in either baseball or
softball can make those participating in this favorite pastime prone to shoulder injuries.
Pitchers are especially prone to shoulder injuries due to the force of which they throw out
a pitch and the degree of motion that occurs in the shoulder joint. But all players of the
sport can be prone to injury when throwing a baseball or any other activity such as
basketball, swimming or golf.
Take a baseball player for example, during a wind up prior to throwing the ball; pitchers
have the tendency to have increased motion into external rotation of the shoulder due to
the repetitive nature of which movement of the shoulder occurs. To maintain good joint
mechanics during this activity and to prevent injury due to that increased rotation, players
should make sure that their rotator cuff muscles and scapula stabilizers are strong and that
the muscles are warmed up prior to the start of a game or practice. The rotator cuff
muscles include the infraspinatus, teres minor and teres major muscles, and supraspinatus
muscles which work together with the deltoid muscle to provide the mechanics needed to
move the shoulder joint (known as the glenohumeral joint) during different motions and
help maintain this “ball and socket” joint in a good position during activities. The scapula
stabilizers are those muscles that help provide stability and movement of the shoulder
blade on the posterior aspect of the rib cage during movements at the shoulder joint.
These muscles include the rhomboids, middle and lower trapezius, upper trapezius and
latissimus dorsi muscle. If there is weakness in any of the rotator cuff muscles or scapula
stabilizers players can be prone to injury or experience shoulder pain when catching and
throwing a ball.
Physical therapy can offer treatment options to any baseball or softball player who may
be experiencing shoulder pain or those who have sustained injuries to the shoulder while
playing this favorite pastime. A physical therapy evaluation would include measuring the
degree of movement in the shoulder joint and the amount of strength in the muscles of the
rotator cuff and scapula stabilizers, as well as evaluating the person’s posture which can
affect the mechanics of a throw. The physical therapist would then develop a treatment
program focusing on those deficits determined during the evaluation. Exercises would
isolate those muscles that are determined to be weak and the therapist would instruct each
person in the correct technique of performing those exercises. Strengthening exercises
would include use of resistive theraband, free weights, and other gym equipment such as
using the cable columns and Cybex machines located within the South Brunswick
YMCA. The physical therapist can also offer manual resistance to a patient’s affected
shoulder, allowing for control of the degree of resistance depending on where in the arc
of movement the weakness exists. ROM exercises may include use of the pulleys and an
upper bike ergometer used to improve endurance of muscles.
If you have a shoulder injury or shoulder pain affecting your ability to participate in
sports or perform activities during your daily life, a physical therapist can help determine
the cause and develop a treatment plan that is unique to your given problem. Twin Boro
Physical Therapy is located within the South Brunswick YMCA and has trained physical
therapists that will help return you to your normal activities through a treatment program
within the clinic and a home exercise program that you can continue during and after
your treatment. The physical therapist can also instruct you in ways to avoid future
injuries and the proper warm-up routine that will prevent further difficulties within your
sport.
