<p> Interval Throwing Program for Baseball Players Phase 1 The Interval Throwing Program rehabilitation process. It is when to slow down.” Again, (ITP) is designed to gradually return recommended to follow the program completion of the steps of the ITP motion, strength and confidence in rigidly as this will be the safest will vary from person to person. the throwing arm after injury or route to return to competition. There is no set timetable in terms of surgery by slowly progressing During the recovery process the days to completion. through graduated throwing athlete will probably experience Warm-up: Jogging increases distances. The ITP is initiated upon soreness and a dull, diffuse aching blood flow to the muscles and joints clearance by the athlete’s physician sensation in the muscles and thus increasing their flexibility and to resume throwing, and performed tendons. If the athlete experiences decreasing the chance of re-injury. under the supervision of the sharp pain, particularly in the joint, Since the amount of warm-up will rehabilitation team (physician, stop all throwing activity until this vary from person to person, the physical therapist, and athletic pain ceases. If continued pain, athlete should jog until developing a trainer). The program is set up to contact your physician. light sweat, then progress to the minimize the chance of re-injury Weight Training: The athlete stretching phase. and emphasizes pre-throwing warm should supplement the ITP with a Stretching: Since throwing up and stretching. In development high repetition, low weight exercise involves all muscles in the body, all of the interval throwing program, program. Strengthening should muscle groups should be stretched the following factors are considered address a good balance between prior to throwing. This should be most important. anterior and posterior musculature done in a systematic fashion 1. The act of throwing the so that the shoulder will not be beginning with the legs and baseball involves the transfer predisposed to injury. Special including the trunk, back, neck, and of energy from the feet through emphasis must be given to posterior arms. Continue with capsular the legs, pelvis, trunk and out rotator cuff musculature for any stretches and t-bar range of motion of the shoulder through the strengthening program. Weight exercises. elbow and hand. Therefore, training will not increase throwing Throwing Mechanics: A any return to throwing after velocity, but will increase the critical aspect of the ITP is injury must include attention to resistance of the arm to fatigue and maintenance of proper throwing the entire body. injury. Weight training should be mechanics throughout the 2. The chance for re-injury is done the same day as you throw, advancement. The use of the Crow- lessened by a graduated however, if should be after your Hop method simulates the throwing progression of interval throwing is completed, using the act, allowing emphasis of the proper throwing. day in between for flexibility body mechanics. This throwing 3. Proper warm-up is essential. exercises and recovery period. A method should be adopted from the 4. Most injuries occur as the weight training pattern of routine onset of the ITP. Throwing flat result of fatigue. should be stressed a this point as a footed encourages improper body 5. Proper throwing mechanics “maintenance program.” This mechanics, placing increased stress lessen the incidence of re- pattern can and should accompany on the throwing arm and, therefore, injury. the athlete into and throughout the predisposing the arm to re-injury. 6. Baseline requirements for season as a deterrent to further The pitching coach and sports throwing include a pain-free injury. It must be stressed that biomechanist (if available) may be range of motion of all joints weight training is of no benefit valuable allies to the rehabilitation involved in throwing and unless accompanied by a sound team with their knowledge of adequate muscle power and flexibility program. throwing mechanics. resistance to fatigue. Individual Variability: The Components of the Crow-Hop Because there is an individual ITP is designed so that each level is method are first a hop, then a skip, variability in all throwing athletes, achieved without pain or followed by the throw. The velocity there is no set timetable for complication before the next level is of the throw is determined by the completion of the program. Most started. This sets up a progression distance, whereas, the ball should athletes, by nature, are highly that a goal is achieved prior to have only enough momentum to competitive individuals and wish to advancement instead of advancing travel each designed distance. return to competition at the earliest to a specific time frame. Because of Again, emphasis should be placed possible moment. While this is a this design, the ITP may be used for upon proper throwing mechanics necessary quality of all athletes, the different levels of skills and abilities when the athlete begins phase two: proper channeling of the athlete’s from those in high school to “Throwing Off the Mound” or from energies into a rigidly controlled professional levels. The reasons for his respective position to decrease throwing program is essential to being in the ITP will vary from chance of re-injury. lessen the chance of re-injury during person to person. Example: One Throwing: Using the Crow- the rehabilitative period. The athlete may wish to use alternate Hop method, the athlete should athlete may have the tendency to days throwing with or without using begin warm-up throws at a want to increase the intensity of the weights in between, another athlete comfortable distance throwing program. This will may have to throw every third or (approximately 30-40 ft) and then increase the incidence of re-injury fourth day due to pain or swelling. progress to the distance indicated and may greatly retard the “Listen to your body- it will tell you for that phase (refer to Table 1). The object of each phase is for the tolerated, under the direction of the athlete to be able to throw the ball rehabilitation team. Summary: In using the without pain the specified number Batting: Depending on the Interval Throwing Program (ITP) in of feet (45 ft., 60 ft., 90 ft., 120 ft., type of injury that the athlete has, conjunction with a structured 150 ft., 180 ft., ), 75 times at each the time of return to batting should rehabilitation program, the athlete distance. After the athlete can be determined by the physician. It should be able to return to full throw 180 ft. 50 times without pain should be noted that stress placed competition status, minimizing any he will be ready for throwing off the upon the arm and should in the chances of re-injury. The program mound or return to his respective batting motion are very different and its progression should be position (Step 14). At this point, from the throwing motion. Return modified to meet the specific needs full strength and confidence should to unrestricted use of the bat should of each individual athlete. A be restored in the athlete’s arm. It is also follow the same progressive comprehensive program consisting important to stress the Crow-Hop guidelines as seen in the throwing of a maintenance strength and method and proper mechanics with program. Begin with dry swings flexibility program, appropriate each throw. Just as the progressing to hitting off the tee, warm-up and cool-down procedures advancement to this point has been then soft toss and finally live (refer to Table II), proper pitching gradual and progressive, the return pitching. mechanics, and progressive to unrestricted throwing must follow throwing and batting will assist the the same principles. A pitcher baseball player in returning safely to should first throw only fast balls at competition. 50%, progressing to 75 % and 100%. At this time, he may start Interval Throwing Program more stressful pitches such as breaking balls. The position player should simulate a game situation again progressing from 50-75- 100%. Once again, if an athlete has increased pain, particularly at the joint, the throwing program should be backed off and re-advanced as</p><p>45’Phase Step 1: A) Warm-up throwing B) 45’ (25 throws) 90’ Phase C) Rest 15 minutes Step 5: A) Warm-up throwing 150’ Phase D) Warm-up throwing B) 90’ (25 throws) Step 9: A) Warm-up throwing E) 45’ (25 throws) C) Rest 15 minutes B) 150’ (25 throws) Step 13: A) Warm-up throwing Step 2: A) Warm-up throwing D) Warm-up throwing C) Rest 15 minutes B) 180’ (25 throw) B) 45’ (25 throw) E) 90’ (25 throws D) Warm-up throwing C) Rest 10 minutes C) Rest 10 minutes Step 6: A) Warm-up throwing E) 150’ (25 throws D) Warm-up throwing D) Warm-up throwing B) 90’ (25 throw) Step 10: A) Warm-up throwing E) 180’ (25 throws) E) 45’ (25 throws) C) Rest 10 minutes B) 150’ (25 throw) F) Rest 10 minutes F) Rest 10 minutes D) Warm-up throwing C) Rest 10 minutes G) Warm-up throwing G) Warm-up throwing E) 90’ (25 throws) D) Warm-up throwing H) 180’ (25 throws) H) 45’ (25 throws) F) Rest 10 minutes E) 150’ (25 throws) Step 14: begin throwing off the G) Warm-up throwing F) Rest 10 minutes mound or return to respective 60’ Phase H) 90’ (25 throws) G) Warm-up throwing position. Step 3: A) Warm-up throwing H) 150’ (25 throws) B) 60’ (25 throws) 120’ Phase C) Rest 15 minutes Step 7: A) Warm-up throwing 180’ Phase D) Warm-up throwing B) 120’ (25 throws) Step 11: A) Warm-up throwing E) 60’ (25 throws C) Rest 15 minutes B) 180’ (25 throws) Step 4: A) Warm-up throwing D) Warm-up throwing C) Rest 15 minutes B) 60’ (25 throw) E) 120’ (25 throws D) Warm-up throwing C) Rest 10 minutes Step 8: A) Warm-up throwing E) 180’ (25 throws D) Warm-up throwing B) 120’ (25 throw) Step 12: A) Warm-up throwing E) 60’ (25 throws) C) Rest 10 minutes B) 180’ (25 throw) F) Rest 10 minutes D) Warm-up throwing C) Rest 10 minutes G) Warm-up throwing E) 120’ (25 throws) D) Warm-up throwing H) 60’ (25 throws) F) Rest 10 minutes E) 180’ (25 throws) G) Warm-up throwing F) Rest 10 minutes H) 120’ (25 throws) G) Warm-up throwing H) 180’ (25 throws)</p>