Category Archives: Injury Prevention

Baseball Injury Prevention: Why is Tommy John Surgery on the Rise?

Baseball Injury Prevention: Why is Tommy John Surgery on the Rise? By Dr. John Mishock, PT, DPT, DC    Fifty years ago, Tommy John, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a career-saving experimental elbow surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) by Dr. Frank Jobe. As of 2024, 36% of all […]

Knee Injuries in Sports: How does Early Physical Therapy Help?

By Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC   Knee Injuries in Sports: How does Early Physical Therapy Help? By Dr. John R. Mishock   In the US, 7 million knee injuries present to emergency rooms every year following sports-related injuries. Studies show that 15-40% of sports-related injuries occur at the knee. Anterior Cruciate ligament […]

Growth-Plate Injuries of the Shoulder and Elbow in Baseball and Softball Players

Growth-Plate Injuries of the Shoulder and Elbow in Baseball and Softball Players   By Dr. John Mishock, PT, DPT, DC  Are Growth-plate injuries common in youth and adolescent baseball and softball players? Growth-plate shoulder and elbow injuries are common in youth and adolescent baseball and softball players.  The growth plate (epiphyseal plate or physis) is [...]

Try Physical Therapy First! – Seeing a Physical Therapist First for Musculoskeletal Pain Improves Outcomes and Saves Money

By Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC   Why Should I See a Physical Therapist First Through Direct Access? Musculoskeletal disorders are injuries or disorders affecting the body's movement or the musculoskeletal system, secondary to pain or limited function. These disorders cost the health care system over 800 billion dollars and are the second [...]

Baseball Pitching: What Causes a Baseball Pitcher to Throw Hard?

Baseball Pitching: What Causes a Baseball Pitcher to Throw Hard? By Dr. John Mishock, PT, DPT, DC  In baseball, it is often said that the pitcher has a strong arm. However, this phrase is a misnomer. Research clearly shows that the arm musculature (hand, forearm, and arm) contributes only about 20-25% of throwing velocity. (Gretchen […]

Knee ACL Injuries: Can we prevent them in our athletes? Part 1

Knee ACL injuries: Can we prevent them in our athletes? Part 1 By Dr. John Mishock, PT, DPT, DC    Knee injuries account for up to 40% of all sports injuries, commonly occurring in soccer, basketball, lacrosse, skiing, football, and gymnastics (Nessier et al. 2017). Knee injuries are the most common cause of surgery in [...]

Baseball and Softball Arm Injuries: How do I return to throwing?

Baseball and Softball Arm Injuries: How do I return to throwing? By Dr. John Mishock, PT, DPT, DC    The success of the baseball pitcher requires not only high-level ability but also durability and prevention of injury. The baseball throwing motion has been described as one of the most violent and stressful motions in all [...]
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