 | |
| Medicine ball side-throws improve rotational explosiveness. | ( For more information on training programs, please contact www.athleticedge.net) |
I grew up in a time where Tommy John was a starting
pitcher and not a common surgical procedure. Competing in multiple sports from
season to season, I experienced bumps and bruises like any other athlete. But
there was never anything more serious than a sprained ankle or some bruise due
to either a collision, being hit by a ball or taking a spill. It is amazing to
me what has happened in today's sports from the youth level all the way up to
the professional level. If you were to go to a Pop Warner practice or game
today, most of the kids on the field would be familiar with concussions, ACL
injuries, rotator cuff issues, etc. The same applies for Little League
organizations as well as in AYSO leagues. While our society has raised
awareness and through the internet there is a considerable amount of
information available in comparison to past times, our advances in performance
training, medicine, physical therapy and rehabilitation should play a factor in
decreasing the number of sports related injuries. Unfortunately, the exact
opposite is true. It should be noted that the vast improvement of performance
enhancement training and the competitive level of sports even at the youth
levels has risen dramatically. These variable are unfortunately the excuses
being used for a large number of injuries due to athletes being bigger,
stronger, faster and more explosive. The thinking is that with more strength,
explosiveness and speed, the athletes are more prone to injury. With all of the
experts out there, shouldn't it be the other way around?
