I am a 16 year old pitcher and I was wondering about how to strengthen my rotator cuff. I have heard that bands are the way to go. Is that true? If so then what are the exercises I should be doing with them.

I am sure bands can work, but I am currently in therapy for a strained rotator cuff. Being treated at a pretty respected hospital, the Cleveland Clinic, and all of the work is with light dumbbells. See a good Sports Medicine doctor and/or trainer and get the correct exercises for you.

I'm also 16 and just dislocated my shoulder this past season... in therepy they gave me things to do to strengthen rotator cuff and bands were hepful and also as Gary said light dumbbells work...no more than 5 lbs.

Gentlemen

A dislocated shoulder situation is not a rotator cuff situation and vice versa--- see you orthopedic guy who can get you set with a therapist to do the right thing--- no two situations are alike-- each shoulder is different and needs to be treated as such

Bands and LIGHT dumbells are definitely the way to go. I'm a 17 year old LHP and I do dumbells and bands everyday. My arm never hurts and I've played over 50 games this summer. Tom House offers a great workout with Bands and Dumbells if you are interested. Steer clear of the heavy waits if your trying to strengthen your rotator cuff....the heavy weights will only strengthen your large muscles and not your micro-muscles which keep the rotator cuff in tact. "You're only as strong as your weakest link" - Words of Tom House. Hope this helps, LPB

I would recommend the surgical bands, which come in different colors, each color determining the toughness of the band. There is a workout called the "Pitchers 10" and it is designed just for pitchers to help rehabilitate the shoulder. Any search engine will come up with it if you type in "Pitchers 10." Also, light dumbell exercises work wonders.

Here is a link to complete shoulder exercises from the American Sports Medicine Institute. ASMI is run by Dr. Andrews one of the best Ortho guys in the country. This is what you are looking for.

http://www.asmi.org/SportsMed/throwing/thrower10.html

It is a combination of dumbells, bands and body weight exercises that develop the shoulder.

"I love the HSBBW"
Plano East Baseball Website

try doings the bands at difrent angles and use light weights deinitly just like everyone else is saying, also using weighted balls can improve arm strengh

steve

i was wondering what size dumbbell a pitcher should use when doing the jobe exercises ive always been told to use a light weight, but how light?


thanks

My recommendation would be probably around 3-5 pounds. 5 pounds max. 3 should be comfortable, but not easy.

bands and dumbells that weigh no more than 5, b/c ne thing above 5 will not work the rotator cuff muscles but larger shoulder muscles. the reds team doctor, Dr. Kremchek, did my rotator cuff surgery last November, and i did my therapy w/ his staff, which is the same staff that works on all the reds players like griffey etc., i saw sean casey in there for a bit when he was doing his rehab, ne ways email me if u want the excercises, i will give u the ones the have me do

i have used the bands in the past and am currently using them. I have found that, if used in the offseason, they reduce the soreness after the first week or two of practice.

I am a 17 year old pitcher and our Athletic Trainer got me using Therabands and it is the greatest thing i could have done for my arm strength. I went from 81 mph in the spring to and was just clocked at 87 a few weeks ago. He also said it will help with my long ball in football since i am also the QB. Anyhow i highly recommend bands. They Definatly worked for me

My daughter had a dislocated shoulder and saw a PT. He said that she was starting to show early rotator cuff signs and gave her exercises to do with latex bands. She has not had a problem since. They come in different colors (easier to harder), start off light and work your way up. She had to do no more than 20 reps at a time and was told to do a form of butterfly exercise. They emphasized keeping the elbow shoulder high.