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Old 04-01-2010, 06:54 PM
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mtomaino mtomaino is offline
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Pitchers are at risk for this injury because of the high loads experienced by the shoulder during the pitching motion----windup through follow through. Because of extraordinary "external rotation," which allows for velocity, and the stresses on the shoulder posterior capsule, the undersurface of the rotator cuff can experience impingement on the rim of the glenoid (the socket" as well as tensile overload.

One of the primary "preventative" measures that most baseball trainers "in the know" institute is a stretching regimen aimed at maintaing internal rotation. Simply put, the back of the shoulder---"the posterior capsule" can become very tight, and when there is a significant deficit between internal and external rotation, injury is more likely.

"Rehab" may work---and if not, off season arthroscopic debridement can always be considered. It's helpful in the meanwhile, for pitchers at all levels, to work on posterior capsular stretching exercises such as the "sleeper stretch."

A video of this stretch can be found on the shoulder page on www.drtomaino.com
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