Resistence Training

Some things can help a lot if technique is done right and enough effort is put into it. But your question is vague.

I do some rotator cuff excercises with stretch bands I got from the Orthopedic.Just tie it to a door and it works out well.

Thanks for the responses,

futurecatcher27,

I also have done the RC exercises for the past 3 months. Do you do any other bandwork you fing helpful I might try?

Not right now

I just do simple things like a few of the exercises of the "throwers ten" program(which you can google and find.) Im not sure if its been the workouts and muscle gains or anything else,but ever since I started doing this every other night my arm feels stronger

You can also incorporate hitting into the resistance training by simulating a swing.This has surprisingly helped me with a stride problem Ive been working at to fix.Obviously adjust the stretch bands to the appropriate height where the bat would be.

Resistance training is just that, resistance training.

Wheter its tubing, a medicine ball, free weights, kettlebell, etc, you body just knows force and movement, not what tool you're using.

For most, resistance tubing will not allow proper resistance, or, in the case of a swing or throw, develop improper mechanics because technique is sacrificed in order to provide significant resistance.

You won't hurt yourself by using tubing for rotator cuff exercises, but in all honesty they will not be the saving grace from an injury. You should do them, but as part of a full body "pre-hab" routine.

Stick to bodyweight, medicine ball and free weight training for strength, speed & power work.

Jon,

So how do you condition the shoulder/rotator muscles AND develop mechanics (arm action) at the same time? (I'm not concerned with the core at the moment). I'm really talking about a way to do throwing motion specific conditioning. Tubing does not provide resistance along the exact same path that the arm takes, but there are similarities.

What are the alternatives? I can't remember his name, but there is some guy who recommends a pulley system, of his design, over tubing. There is some logic to his arguement in that tubing provides more resistance at the end of the movement, when the tube is fully stretched, whereas pulley system applies more constant resistance, But I'm not sure there is enough of a difference to spend a bunch of money on a pulley system.

There's no way to use body weight during the throwing movement. Ditto for free weights. Although I have done some "shadow throwing" with a one pound medicine ball in each hand. You can also to a little of this with a pitch back, but you have to be very careful.

Weighted baseballs?

Just curious about your thoughts. And again, I'm just focused on shoulder conditioning here. I'm a Doyle convert when it comes to core/abs.

quote:

Originally posted by Jon Doyle:
....

For most, resistance tubing will not allow proper resistance, or, in the case of a swing or throw, develop improper mechanics because technique is sacrificed in order to provide significant resistance.

You won't hurt yourself by using tubing for rotator cuff exercises, but in all honesty they will not be the saving grace from an injury. You should do them, but as part of a full body "pre-hab" routine.

Stick to bodyweight, medicine ball and free weight training for strength, speed & power work.

quote:

Originally posted by MTH:
Jon,

So how do you condition the shoulder/rotator muscles AND develop mechanics (arm action) at the same time? (I'm not concerned with the core at the moment). I'm really talking about a way to do throwing motion specific conditioning. Tubing does not provide resistance along the exact same path that the arm takes, but there are similarities.

What are the alternatives? I can't remember his name, but there is some guy who recommends a pulley system, of his design, over tubing. There is some logic to his arguement in that tubing provides more resistance at the end of the movement, when the tube is fully stretched, whereas pulley system applies more constant resistance, But I'm not sure there is enough of a difference to spend a bunch of money on a pulley system.

There's no way to use body weight during the throwing movement. Ditto for free weights. Although I have done some "shadow throwing" with a one pound medicine ball in each hand. You can also to a little of this with a pitch back, but you have to be very careful.

Weighted baseballs?

Just curious about your thoughts. And again, I'm just focused on shoulder conditioning here. I'm a Doyle convert when it comes to core/abs.

quote:

Originally posted by Jon Doyle:
....

For most, resistance tubing will not allow proper resistance, or, in the case of a swing or throw, develop improper mechanics because technique is sacrificed in order to provide significant resistance.

You won't hurt yourself by using tubing for rotator cuff exercises, but in all honesty they will not be the saving grace from an injury. You should do them, but as part of a full body "pre-hab" routine.

Stick to bodyweight, medicine ball and free weight training for strength, speed & power work.

In short, you don't.

There is such a thing as TOO specific.

While I'll get people arguing in favor of weighted balls and their safety, I just have yet to see anyone impliment it correctly. Here's why...

I think everyone can agree it's VERY difficult to duplicate pitching delivery from pitch to pitch on a consistant basis. After all, the best pitchers in the world have trouble doing this.

So what makes anyone think an amateur who most likely already has major mechanical flaws and muscular imbalances can do it with a regulation weight baseball, let alone one that weights more or less?

When trying to move a sub-maximal object at extremely high speeds (i.e. throwing a baseball or swinging a bat) any time that object weights 15% plus/minus those mechanics are changed.

And that is assuming everything else is perfect, which they are not.

So when using weighted objects in a highly-specific skill, not only are you placing the athlete in danger, but you are NO LONGER TRAINING THE SKILL YOU SET OUT TO TRAIN!

I have no idea why many otherwise highly intelligent coaches and trainers have a hard time understanding this.

Maybe they do, but understand gadgets and weighted balls are "s e x y" and sell well. However, I doubt thats the case for most.

So what do you do to improve throwing?

You develop ballistic, explosive power throughout your entire body by performing Olympic Lifts (for young athletes not ready for weight training, this can be done in a fun safe manner using medicine balls - MOVEMENT is important here, not weight).

You develop your posterior chain.

You develop proper dynamic and staic range of motion throughout your hips, torso (core), shoulders and posterior chain. Virtually no athlete gets this right and is a MAJOR reason for sub-optimal performance & injury. Remember, injury is VERY rarely acute. It is breakdown over time.

And, lastly, you develop overall body and muscular conditioning by running sprints (of varying distances) and perform GPP.

MTH, I hope this answers your question. And by no means was this attacking you.

Your question, which was quite excellent, just sent me off on a tangent.