If you desire a long and successful career in baseball, at any level, read further to see how Belmar Physical Therapy can help you achieve your goals.

In the last two decades, top level managers have focused less on speed and more on injury prevention for success in the sport of baseball.

My Shoulder Already Hurts, What Do I Do?

Even if you’re currently experiencing shoulder pain, it’s not too late!

Many injuries can be successfully treated with a well-structured and carefully implemented non-operative rehabilitation program by a Physical Therapist.

The overhead throwing motion is an extremely skillful and intricate movement that is very stressful on the shoulder joint complex.

The overhead athlete places extraordinary demands on this complex. The thrower’s shoulder must be loose enough to allow extreme motion, but be stable at the same time. This requires a delicate balance. Experts refer to this balance as the “thrower’s paradox.”

Scientific studies show that changes occur in the shoulder from the repetitive microtrauma that occurs during overhead throwing.

The Types of Injuries That Occur Are:

1. Anterior Instability
2. Impingement
3. Biceps Tensonitis
4. Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

The physical therapists at Belmar Physical Therapy continuously review the scientific literature in order to provide the most successful treatment possible. Physical therapy treatment focuses on the restoration of normal movement of the shoulder complex during the rehabilitation program.

The Treatment Consists of:

1. Controlling inflammation.
2. Restoring muscle balance.
3. Improving soft tissue flexibility.
4. Improving strength of the throwing muscles.
5. Enhancing control of the shoulder complex.

Call Belmar Physical Therapy today at (303) 274-2404 to start improving your performance through injury prevention or treatment.

What Are Shin Splints?

Shin splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome, is an overuse injury that causes lower leg pain. This problem is the cause in 18% of running injuries and is 2-3 more prevalent in women than men. Shin splints are primarily caused by a mismatch between overload and recovery during weight bearing exercise. High-stress impact loading during running or walking places an increased stress on the lower leg bone (tibia). When this stress increases gradually the bone strengthens in order to handle the load. Shin splints occur when the body’s ability to strengthen the bone is not able to keep up with the stress being placed on the bone. This imbalance of bone strengthening and stress causes small cracks in the bone and inflammation of the surrounding tissue.  The pain from shin splints can be classified into 4 stages in order of severity:

1. Light pain or stiffness after working out.
2. Pain at the beginning of a work-out which dissapears during the warm-up.
3. Pain during the work-out, but also after the workout and during the night. The pain subsides after long rest and inactivity.
4. Constant pain. The pain does not dissapear after rest.

What Mechanical Factors Contribute to Shin Splints?

1. Excessive flattening (pronation) of the feet when walking or running.
2. Tight calf muscles.
3. Weak ankle stabilizer muscles (soleus, flexor digitorum longus, posterior tibialis).
4. Walking or running on hard surfaces.
5. Walking or running in old shoes.

What is the Preferred Treatment for Shin Splints?

1. Ice


Superfeet are an inexpensive orthotics option.

2. Rest (The amount of rest depends on the stage above).
3. Anti-inflamatory medication (prescribed by a medical doctor).
4. Orthotics to support the arch of your foot and decrease the flattening of your feet.
5. Make sure you shoes are not too old (running shoes should be replaced every 300-600 miles).
6. Run or walk on softer surfaces such as dirt.
7. Increase the endurance of your ankle muscles with these exercises.
8. Stretch your calf muscles.
9. Cross-train to give your body a break from high-stress impact loading (cycling and swimming are great choices for maintaining aerobic fitness while resting the injury).
10. When you are ready to resume training, gradually increase your duration and intensity so that the bones can keep up.
11. Prevent recurrence by instituting rest weeks into your training (We recommend an active rest week of 1/2 your usual training duration and intensity every 4th week).

If you live in the Denver or Lakewood, CO area and would like help treating or preventing shin splints give us a call at (303) 274-2404.  If you do not live in our area and have more questions about this or any other orthopedic problem please contact us and we would be glad to help.