DYNAMIC THROWING WARM-UP
BE READY BEFORE THROWING
Baseball injuries are something we often see at Wright Physical Therapy and a common theme with these injuries is that there was not proper warm-up before throwing. Throwing can be a precariously dynamic movement and adds micro trauma to the body. Throwing warm-up should be treated like any other dynamic activity (e.g. jumping/running) by assuring your body is prepared before you start throwing the ball as hard as you can. A common mistake seen in local players is improper throwing programs and warm-ups that might be hurting them more than helping them.
Throwing is not a simple movement. It is actually very complex and aggressive on the shoulder. Quick fact: Throwing is the fastest motion the body performs! We often explain a simple equation of physics. Force = Mass x Acceleration. The quicker your body has to move during throwing motion, the more force it places on the body.
The sequence of activities we use during throwing programs has been a proven system with professional baseball players with “million dollar” arms. Two things are needed in order to be best prepared for the violent activity of throwing: Prepare the body and Prepare for throwing. The sequential pattern of getting the arm loose, activating the muscles, and dynamic movements are some of the best ways to prepare for throwing. The following steps are highlighted from Mike Reinold, a world-renowned leader in baseball performance and throwing injuries (mikereinold.com).
STEP 1- GET YOUR ARM LOOSE
You need to have mobility of the throwing arm first. Commonly seen amongst throwing athletes are the following: 1) Throwing a baseball causes muscles to tighten and you lose mobility of the shoulder and elbow.
2) If not addressed, the tightness becomes cumulative and you get tighter as the season progresses.
3) Working to maintain motion is very effective and prevents a loss of motion.
Focus needs to be on the lats, back of shoulder, rotator cuff, pec, biceps, and forearm. Do this for 30-60 seconds on each tight spot.
STEP 2 – ACTIVATE THE MUSCLES
Hit major shoulder muscles and movement patterns that are necessary to accelerate and decelerate the arm. By turning on these muscles, the body will be ready to absorb upcoming forces of throwing. These warm-ups are designed to prepare the muscle, not fatigue them, and are not substitutes for strengthening them. Strengthening is a completely different program with different focus in mind.
STEP 3 – DYNAMIC MOVEMENT!
The last step is to involve dynamic movements for throwing. The throwing movement requires elasticity of muscles. Stretching and mobility prep will not be enough to turn on the elastic component of muscles. You should slowly work up to this last step so there is less trauma to the body tissues.
Wright Physical Therapy can help a wide range of patients with orthopedic and sports medicine issues. Call us today or schedule now at one of our clinic locations to find out how we can help you!