It is the time of year where parade revelers are lining the streets and hollering to the riders of floats in hopes of getting that perfect catch. I always find it funny that another kind of throwing is just beginning at the same time. If you’re a baseball player then you might be getting ready for the spring season to kick off just as the Mardi Gras season is getting started. What that should mean is the sights, sounds, and smells of America’s favorite pastime. What it often means is that you get some other, not so pleasant, feelings. Particularly in your throwing shoulder or even your elbow. This could spell disaster for an overhead athlete. Just read “Any Given Monday” for Dr. James Andrews account of the rising prevalence of threatening injuries associated with youth sports. But don’t fear. Those aches and pains don’t have to mean catastrophe. It could just be your body letting you know that something isn’t right. The important thing is to get in to see a professional to make sure that those not so pleasant feelings don’t turn into the kinds of injuries that require season or career ending surgeries. If you get this right early on you could learn a few things about how to take care of your throwing arm leading to a healthier and longer throwing career and you could even learn a thing or two about how to improve your performance while you’re at it. For a throwing athlete, that sounds like the perfect catch!
