MLB Pitchers- Are Their Arms In The Wrong Hands?

Ever wonder why so many healthy, good MLB pitchers never pitch for more than a couple of productive seasons? True, structural problems and more utilization may contribute to the phenomenon , but how can it be that so many pitchers have landed on the Disabled List ( DL) in recent years.

Certainly, there is no shortage of pitchers among the ailing. In fact early in this 2009 baseball season , nearly 60 % of the players on the DL were pitchers. Can it be some after effect of the steroid era or just perhaps could it be the overlooked factor of woefully unskilled trainers who work on staff to "condition" players?

The "skill" set for active trainers is so varied. You will find some ATCs ( athletic trainers), personal conditioning specialists, personal trainers "to the stars" with no degrees and in some cases licensed, qualified physical therapists with appropriate education and knowledge. Does anyone actually evaluate the curriculum of study for these certifications or degrees, prior to hiring the trainers and putting the team's prized prospects in their hands?

Consider the physical therapist is the only one of the group whose curriculum includes a full course on gross anatomy, even including cadaver dissection. To have a thorough understanding of the internal structures, nerves and organs, and how they function and interrelate, provides the physical therapist with hands on knowledge the others do not come close to possessing.

As the baseball playing field becomes increasingly competitive, the level of training and skills of the trainers needs to keep pace. The pitcher's arm and career may often be left in the hands of someone with only passing or no knowledge whatsoever of the intricacies of the nerve roots of the brachial plexus and how they can affect pectoralis minor and the lower trapezius. To the physical therapist that's basics! And to the major league pitcher quite possibly the difference between a long, lucrative career and unhappy thought about unfulfilled dreams.

Major league ball clubs need to open their eyes to assess WHO is handling their players and their trainers' level of didactic training. Get a trained physical therapist, and you may be taking an important step to keep that 5 year, $60 million contract a very sound investment.


- Vinod Somareddy (DPT)