Have any of you noticed the recent increase injuries particularly hamstring pulls ?
Is it possible that it is due to over training?
Are the players pushing their bodies too far
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While fatigue and overtraining can contribute, the villain is often (usually?) a muscle imbalance between the strength of the quadraceps and glutes, and the hamstrings.
If you think about it, it isn't too surpising, most of an athlete's acceleration success starts in the quads, most of the heavy weight work (squats, sleds, etc.) focuses on the quads. Fortunately, they seem to have a higher capacity for it.
When a runner gets up to speed, however, the hamstrings take over a more substantial part of the running stride. Sometimes they aren't as ready for that...
If you think about it, it isn't too surpising, most of an athlete's acceleration success starts in the quads, most of the heavy weight work (squats, sleds, etc.) focuses on the quads. Fortunately, they seem to have a higher capacity for it.
When a runner gets up to speed, however, the hamstrings take over a more substantial part of the running stride. Sometimes they aren't as ready for that...
At least at our local level I have not noticed an increase in these injuries.
I agree with OBC that few understand proper training regimes for baseball. However I do see a trend toward a better understanding of baseball specific training programs and more and more bb specific programs coming out.
I agree with OBC that few understand proper training regimes for baseball. However I do see a trend toward a better understanding of baseball specific training programs and more and more bb specific programs coming out.
Agreed. It is taking some time for the information to bleed down to the high school level, but its good to see that a lot of trainers are moving toward adding functional and "pre-habilitation" movements for baseball. Even better, schools are beginning to insist that their trainers have an academic background and certifications that show that they understand kinesiology and physiology.
JDoyle and I had this conversation on another thread about a year ago; part of the problem, speaking very frankly, is that there a number of "trainers" out there who don't have a academically grounded training background, but are "experts" solely because they have worked out for 10 years. He, of course, can speak for himself, but we seemed to agree that the influx of "trainers" that have little academic grounding (past the ability to get a flourescent light tan in a weight room =)) was a significant problem.
I long ago stopped coaching baseball, but I have several friends who still train and rehabilitate athletes for a living, two who still do it at the at the D1 level and one that spent a lot of years as a trainer for a couple teams in the AL West. While weightlifting will always have a prominent role in any athletic training, functional (core) and prehabilitative exercies are featured more and more. You might be surprised.
Now, I have no way at all to prove this beyond my anecdotal experiences, but I would guess that fully one or 10 high school ballplayers get hurt or have their careers sidetracked by injuries they sustain (or otherwise become vulnerable to) in the weightroom.
JDoyle and I had this conversation on another thread about a year ago; part of the problem, speaking very frankly, is that there a number of "trainers" out there who don't have a academically grounded training background, but are "experts" solely because they have worked out for 10 years. He, of course, can speak for himself, but we seemed to agree that the influx of "trainers" that have little academic grounding (past the ability to get a flourescent light tan in a weight room =)) was a significant problem.
I long ago stopped coaching baseball, but I have several friends who still train and rehabilitate athletes for a living, two who still do it at the at the D1 level and one that spent a lot of years as a trainer for a couple teams in the AL West. While weightlifting will always have a prominent role in any athletic training, functional (core) and prehabilitative exercies are featured more and more. You might be surprised.
Now, I have no way at all to prove this beyond my anecdotal experiences, but I would guess that fully one or 10 high school ballplayers get hurt or have their careers sidetracked by injuries they sustain (or otherwise become vulnerable to) in the weightroom.
I know of at least 5 hs Jr's last summer who had to shut down due to back problems.
A novel idea would be get stronger by swinging a bat, get quicker by running, strengthen arm by throwing a baseball.
Old dog I guess?
A novel idea would be get stronger by swinging a bat, get quicker by running, strengthen arm by throwing a baseball.
Old dog I guess?
Because my son (catcher) has had 3 oblique injuries in 3 years, and the fact that 2-3 players on the USA team have sustained oblique injuries this past couple of weeks, we began looking for articles and found that this injury has become more pervasive in MLB and college ball for the last 3-4 years. No one seems to know, yet, the exact cause of the injury or why the increase in incidence. Switch hitters get them fairly frequently. The recovery time is 4-6 weeks and it's a very painful injury to deal with. My boy got his while on deck swinging the bat-- had just finished catching and there had been a collision at home plate.
Some experts believe it points to over-training the core, while others believe better and more specific training of the core is the answer... Anyone else notice this injury cropping up more with their players?
Some experts believe it points to over-training the core, while others believe better and more specific training of the core is the answer... Anyone else notice this injury cropping up more with their players?
Or maybe it's because most of the "coaches" don't have a clue.....
They train kids in the weight room, most have them do the reps at a slower pace, they have them do 15 reps which will actually slow the body down, they have them squat with narrow stance, etc......
Then they ask them to go out and hustle, as fast as they can, out of the box and sprint to 1st base.
If you don't train explosively, then you go out and try to run explosively you will get injured.
They train kids in the weight room, most have them do the reps at a slower pace, they have them do 15 reps which will actually slow the body down, they have them squat with narrow stance, etc......
Then they ask them to go out and hustle, as fast as they can, out of the box and sprint to 1st base.
If you don't train explosively, then you go out and try to run explosively you will get injured.
The big thing about abs is many coaches have you do 100 sit-ups. Why? You don't do that many reps with any other body part. You don't gain much strength by doing that many reps. So then your abs become a weak link and injuries happen. Do ab exercises with heavy weights and 8-15 reps.
Iowa,
The oblique injury is deep-muscle between the ribs and beneath other overlying muscle--for most it involves the muscle pulling away from the 11th rib specifically. Hurts to talk, breath, move, described as something like broken ribs or a knife stab. In pitchers it usually happens opposite the throwing arm. As it heals, no pain unless there is trunk rotation.
The oblique injury is deep-muscle between the ribs and beneath other overlying muscle--for most it involves the muscle pulling away from the 11th rib specifically. Hurts to talk, breath, move, described as something like broken ribs or a knife stab. In pitchers it usually happens opposite the throwing arm. As it heals, no pain unless there is trunk rotation.
I know what an oblique muscle is and an oblique injury. Your oblique muscles are a part of the abdominal muscles group. When I said abs, I was including training your obliques as well.
quote:Originally posted by IowaPlayer5:
The big thing about abs is many coaches have you do 100 sit-ups. Why? You don't do that many reps with any other body part. You don't gain much strength by doing that many reps. So then your abs become a weak link and injuries happen. Do ab exercises with heavy weights and 8-15 reps.
Man this is dead on. Unfortunately we live in a society where we think when see a guy with 6 pack and a 28" waist he is "in shape". Couldn't be further from the truth.
quote:Unfortunately we live in a society where we think when see a guy with 6 pack and a 28" waist he is "in shape".
"In shape" and in good athletic condition are two totally different things.
From what I have read (having a couple catchers that I try to help keep healthy, I read a lot about this kind of stuff) there is a school of thought that believes that too many situps, at the expense of oblique and even lower back work is part of the culprit. In theory anyway, the athlete is develops an imbalance in the structure of the abdominal wall between an overdeveloped rectus abdominus (the front part) and the erector spinae (the muscles along the spine) and the obliques. Also, I have heard that hip inflexibility can contribute to "core" problems when an athlete goes from a stop to acceleration ina of a number of ways(which sounds a lot like baseball). Good discussion!
There are always trends and it seems there are specific injuries that are popping up more than others.
Improper weight training can result in injuries. It can also result in muscular imbalances, which can - and almost always do - lead to injuries as well.
The key is to be well rounded - strength, endurance (not running muscles, just decent overall muscular endurance), flexibility, stability, etc. If one of off, everything is effected.
Improper weight training can result in injuries. It can also result in muscular imbalances, which can - and almost always do - lead to injuries as well.
The key is to be well rounded - strength, endurance (not running muscles, just decent overall muscular endurance), flexibility, stability, etc. If one of off, everything is effected.