Million Dollar Arm? TJ surgery

he threw Javelin and played Cricket.  Bowling in Cricket shouldn't be a problem for the elbow but Javelin throwers often need TJ.  Couple Javelin anda a period of time with bad pitching mecanics and TJ shouldn't be a surprise.

Really good topic PG.

And really good response SoWilson.  

I've only seen a javelin thrown a couple of times but always thought it was physically tough thing to do.  Any former track & field guys on here that can discuss?

Rich

www.PlayInSchool.com

Overhand actions are the killer. College softball pitchers routinely throw 400 pitches over a weekend tournament without major elbow problems.

haha, where will the finger point now?

Dad04,

I’ve made the same observation many times over the years, and even taken it a bit further. Anyone that’s ever seen or knows much about Eddie Feigner, knows he could throw a softball as hard as the hardest of baseball throwers, and threw an ungodly number of pitches without arm injury.

So why hasn’t anyone tried to throw underhanded in baseball? You’d think someone would have at least tried it.

Seriously, though. Imagine if a kid could throw (a baseball) without risk of injury...every. single. game. It would revolutionize the game, if a kid could get hang zeros.

It's a nice thought, but unfortunately:

1) Throwing underhand does not enable an individual to throw with the same velocity as throwing overhand (also, those that say Eddie Feigner was clocked throwing 104 mph are most likely the same people that say Mickey Mantle ran home-to-first in 3.1 seconds. Neither of which is remotely true or possible. In a related theme, I have a bridge to sell you). 

2) The common thought that throwing underhand is more natural and therefore does not cause injury in softball pitchers has been proven false. The motion is, perhaps, less injurious than throwing overhand. But there is still injury risk.

As for the OP, there are so many different reasons why people get hurt. Each and every instance is unfortunate.

My son is learning to throw the javelin this summer.  He's working with an experienced throws coach to make sure that his technique is sound so that he doesn't damage his shoulder or elbow.  Of the T&F throws the javelin is the only throw similar to the overhand throw of baseball (or volleyball serve/spike).

I'm not sure how many people know that in the very early stages of baseball pitchers could not throw over hand. Pitches had to be underhanded. In the second game of the Fashion Course All-Star series in 1858, Tom Van Cott of New York threw 270 pitches and Frank Pidgeon of Brooklyn 290. In the third game, Pidgeon threw 436 pitches, including 87 in the first inning. That same year, Canfield of the Resolutes threw 128 pitches in a single inning.  Of course back then there were no balls and strikes, the ball had to be put into play.

Just adding some history to the conversation as it pertains to pitching underhand.

PG, where did you have Frank Pidgeon of Brooklyn ranked? ha ha

Female softball pitchers often end up with hip problems from all the pitching. To pitch as much as they do is a lot of wear and tear on the hips. Plus females are more susceptible to hip injuries based in their physical build.

So my guess in regards to softball players hitting 100+ mph is that it is just equivalency and not actually throwing 104.

Check out this study from Andrews and Fleisig et al. on softball pitching.

http://www.jospt.org/doi/pdf/1.../jospt.1998.28.6.405