ORLANDO, FL—Preseason prevention programs can improve deficits in young baseball pitchers, according to research presented at the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine’s Specialty Day.
Researchers evaluated 143 pitchers, of which 88 participated in additional preseason training and 76 continued with normal training. The median age of the pitchers was 15.7 years.
The prevention program, which was supervised by an athletic trainer and required a commitment of 15 minutes 4 times a week, included resistance training with dumbbell weights, elastic tubing, and a focused flexibility program. Pitchers who participated in the prevention program had reduced internal rotation and horizontal adduction deficits. Pitchers who had previous injuries and participated in the preseason training program were 4 times less likely to suffer an injury than those in the general arm care program.