Why “Fixing” a Pitcher’s Mechanics Might Make Them a Worse Player
The old-school approach to sports medicine often tries to force every athlete into a standardized box, but when it comes to elite baseball players, that can be counter-productive. According to physical therapist and strength coach Eric Schoenberg, changing a pitcher's natural motor preferences may reduce pain, but it may also make them a worse baseball player.
In this episode, Eric Schoenberg, owner of Diamond Physical Therapy, joins hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth for a wide-ranging conversation on baseball rehabilitation.
Drawing on years of elite experience—including overseeing Justin Verlander's historic Tommy John rehabilitation at age 39—Schoenberg explains why protecting an athlete's uniqueness is the key to performance. He breaks down the subtle early warning signs of UCL and flexor pathology, what surgeons overlook during clinical exams, why the term "arm care" is fundamentally misleading, how the scapula and thoracic spine sit at the center of protecting the throwing athlete, and shares his thoughts on the modern youth injury epidemic.
MEET THE GUEST
Eric Schoenberg, PT, CSCS
Owner, Diamond Physical Therapy at Cressey Sports Performance Florida
Board Certified Physical Therapist & Strength and Conditioning Coach
Specialist in baseball athlete rehabilitation and management
TOPICS DISCUSSED
Why coaching the uniqueness out of an athlete can ruin their performance
The real drivers behind the youth baseball injury epidemic
How to maximize rehab in the "no-throw" window
The role of the scapula and thoracic spine in arm health
Why traditional manual muscle testing fails throwing athletes
What surgeons, therapists, and athletic trainers can learn from one another
HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 – Introduction
00:55 – What Makes a Baseball Athlete Unique
02:36 – Balancing Athlete Uniqueness with Pain-Free Play
05:09 – Sponsor: Beck Bode | Boston Orthopedics and Wellness
06:41 – Most Prevalent Upper Extremity Injuries
07:40 – Is There a Rise in Youth Throwing Injuries?
09:01 – The Role of Physical Therapy in Rehab vs. Injury Prevention
11:12 – Turning Back the Clock on Private Equity in Youth Sports
14:47 – Early Warning Signs of UCL & Flexor Wad Issues
16:51 – Non-Operative Treatments for UCL Injuries
19:27 – The Role of Workload Management in Injury Prevention
22:03 – Strength vs. Mobility: What Athletes Need at Different Ages
24:05 – Incorporating Manual Therapy & Modalities in Recovery
26:57 – How Technology Is Changing Baseball Rehab
28:55 – Best Piece of Tech for a Clinician to Use
31:00 – What Orthopedic Surgeons Often Overlook
38:52 – Advice for New Athletic Trainers on Arm Health
41:43 – The Importance of Thoracic Mobility
46:54 – The Role of FMS in the Evaluation Process
48:57 – Lightning Round: Comebacks, Underrated Exercises & Overrated Tools
53:36 – Thoughts on Shohei Ohtani's Unicorn Status
55:02 – Red Sox or Yankees?
QUOTES:
01:52 - “Sometimes we view something as, ‘Well, maybe this doesn't look right, or maybe this doesn't match up with another athlete, so therefore we have to change it.' And I think that's something that we need to be really careful about is just not coaching the uniqueness out of somebody, because that's usually what makes them great.”
51:50 - “Arm care is a bad name because you don't pitch with just your arm. So whenever anybody says, ‘I've got to do my arm care,’ I cringe because if you're not getting the rest of your body ready to throw, you're generally wasting your time.”
LINKS
Eric Schoenberg on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-schoenberg-5593a320
Diamond Physical Therapy - https://diamondphystherapy.com
Cressey Sports Performance - https://cresseyperformance.com
RELATED EPISODES
The Surgeon Who Saved Sports - Meet Dr. Andrews - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkvI56ZiabA
Stop Blaming Her Hormones — The Real Cause of ACL Injuries in Female Athletes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb2Dm9xzfZg&t
SPONSORS
Beck Bodie is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.com
Boston Orthopedics and Wellness helps you recover faster, move better, and perform at your best with advanced orthopedic and wellness care. Get 15% off your first visit: https://www.bostonorthopedicandwellness.com/
DISCLAIMER
The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed.
#SportsMedicine #BaseballRehab #TommyJohn #PhysicalTherapy #PitchingMechanics
