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 […]
Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC 1. Dynamic warm up: Perform the dynamic warm-up prior to throwing. 2. Throw and holds: Hold baseball and go through throwing motion without releasing the ball (10 times). 3. Rest-recovery: After each set of throws, rest 60-90 sec. (Perform push-ups, front planks, side planks) 4. Phase progression: Progress […]
By Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC When watching professional athletes play their sport, we marvel at how they effortlessly hit a baseball over 400 feet, throw a baseball a 100 mph, jump over 40 inches to dunk a basketball, and run sub 4.2 sec on the football field. Advancements in strength and conditioning […]
By Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC The baseball pitcher is the most vital position in baseball. The success of the baseball pitcher not only requires high-level ability but also requires durability and prevention of injury. Science has also shown that in elite baseball pitchers, 85% of throwing velocity comes from leg drive (push-off […]
By Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC Overuse injuries in the shoulder and elbow are the most common problems in baseball players. Injuries of the shoulder account for 14-21%, whereas the elbow account for 16%-22% of all baseball-related injuries. (Agresta et al. Orthop. J Sports Med, 2019, Posner et al. Am J Sorts Med, […]
John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC With the baseball season is in full swing, the Major League Baseball injury rate is reaching an unprecedented level. The throwing injury rate is also increasing in college, high school, and youth level baseball players. Most coaches look at pitch count guidelines to help reduce throwing overuse injuries. Limiting […]
By Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC In my clinic, a 12-year-old boy and his parents present for a sports medicine consultation regarding his elbow pain. Following a 105 pitch outing, he felt significant sharp elbow pain. He stated the pain started about an inning before, but he was encouraged by his coach and […]
By Dr. John R. Mishock Growth-plate injuries of the shoulder and elbow are common injuries in youth and adolescent baseball players. The growth-plate (epiphyseal plate or physis) is an area of cartilage at the end of a bone that is responsible for the bones growth. The growth plates close at the completion of bone growth […]
By Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC The baseball pitcher is 36 times more likely to develop a shoulder or elbow injury if they throw while the arm or body is tired and fatigued. (Am Sports Med Inst, 2017). We know that limiting pitches thrown per game, per week, and per year can reduce […]
By Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC, Owner, Mishock Physical Therapy & Associates The Mishock Winter Workout Baseball and Softball Training Program is a home exercise program that prepares the athlete for pre-season baseball. It also can be used as a warm-up or training station in a winter work-out program or as an in-season […]
