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Rehabbing the Non-Pitching Overhead Athlete

David Nolan, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, SCS, CSCS

August 20, 2013

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Question

Can a Thrower’s Ten program be applied to volleyball players and/or swimmers?

 

Answer

Yes. That is a great question. I mentioned early on that I am a big believer in the fact that the vast majority of the literature, and articles that are written, as far as exercise is concerned, are really focused on pitchers.  I think it is because they are such a large group, and because baseball is such as a popular sport. I think that the same principles that we talked about [in the course] are going to be applicable to any overhead athlete.  Now, where things might change is that instead of doing some of the specific progressions that mimic throwing, you may start changing that up and actually do something in a position that a swimmer or a volleyball player would be in. Maybe you perform an activity with your client in standing and they are moving their shoulder down in more of a spike type of motion. 

 

The general exercises are very important. I think that the ones that maybe not be quite as important are some of the specific flexor pronator ones.  Those really are more for pitching.  I think that it is important for people to have that strength, and certainly anything that is looking into the shoulder complex itself is going to be appropriate for someone who is doing anything overhead.  


david nolan

David Nolan, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, SCS, CSCS

Dr. Nolan is an Associate Clinical Professor at Northeastern University in the Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences as well as a Graduate Lecturer in the College of Professional Studies in the transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Northeastern University.  He is also a Lecturer at Harvard Medical School in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  David is also a Clinical Specialist at the Mass General Sports Physical Therapy Service and the Director of the MGH / Northeastern University Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program. 

David is a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and Sports Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  In 2019, Dr. Nolan was the recipient of the Lynn Wallace Clinical Educator Award from the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy.  He is a past recipient of the “Excellence in Clinical Teaching” award from the New England Consortium of Academic Coordinators of Clinical Education as well as the award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Practice by the Massachusetts Chapter of the APTA. In 2022, Dr. Nolan received the Richard Kessler Memorial Award from the APTA of Massachusetts. Dr. Nolan was also honored with the APTA Academy of Physical Therapy Education's Distinguished Mentor in Residency/Fellowship Education Award in the same year.


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