Preventing Pitching Injuries, How Motor Preferences Can Save Pitchers
Since 2000, throwing-related injuries in baseball have surged, with staggering numbers of pitchers undergoing procedures like Tommy John surgery. As the injury pandemic continues to affect athletes, understanding the underlying causes is more crucial than ever. A core issue? The failure to recognize and respect individual motor preferences—an essential aspect of player development and long-term health.
The Rise of Injuries and The Quest for Answers
In the past two decades, Major League Baseball (MLB) teams have witnessed a dramatic increase in throwing injuries. A striking example is the 550 Tommy John surgeries performed over just 40 months, with some teams reporting over 20 surgeries within that period. Despite advancements in technology, high-tech biomechanics labs, and sophisticated data analysis, injuries persist at alarming rates.
Why, with all the resources available, is injury prevention still a challenge? One key reason is the misunderstanding of how individual athletes move. Athletes are not robots, and their natural motor preferences—ingrained since birth—cannot be overridden by technology or standardized training approaches. Ignoring these preferences can lead to inefficient movement, loss of performance, and worst of all, injury.
The Two Absolutes of Motor Preferences
To understand why pitchers continue to suffer, we need to delve into the concept of natural motor preferences. Every athlete has a unique way of generating power and movement. These preferences are determined by two key factors:
- Whether the pitcher has a vertical or horizontal organization.
- Whether the pitcher has a high or low mobile point in the spine.
Understanding these factors helps identify an athlete’s healthiest and most energy-efficient movements. Unfortunately, many coaches and analysts try to force athletes into movements that go against their natural tendencies, which leads to injury. For example, altering a pitcher’s arm slot or forcing a “standard” pitching mechanic that doesn’t align with their motor profile can cause significant strain, resulting in long-term damage.
Why Teams Should Prioritize Player Health
MLB teams face a fundamental choice: prioritize short-term gains by pushing athletes to fit certain statistical models, or invest in the long-term health of their players. Changing an athlete’s natural movements to chase numbers may yield temporary performance boosts, but it comes at the cost of their health and longevity.
The solution lies in recognizing and working with, rather than against, an athlete’s motor preferences. By doing so, teams can create personal development plans that are not only tailored to each athlete’s physical capabilities but also respect their cognitive-emotional patterns. This approach can save teams money in the long run by reducing injury-related downtime and expensive surgeries.
The Future of Baseball Development: Personalization Over Standardization
One-size-fits-all training methods are outdated and ineffective when it comes to high-performance athletes. The complexity of the human body demands a more individualized approach, especially in baseball, where repetitive, high-stress motions like pitching are the norm. By leveraging tools like #BaseballActionID, teams can develop personalized training programs that honour the athlete’s natural motor preferences.
Incorporating these principles into player development not only minimizes injury risk but also enhances performance. Healthy athletes with personalized development plans are more likely to enjoy long, successful careers while contributing more effectively to their teams.
Conclusion: Health Is Wealth in Baseball
The injury crisis in baseball is a wake-up call. To reduce the number of Tommy John surgeries and other debilitating injuries, the sport needs to move away from rigid, standardized training methods. Embracing individual motor preferences will not only lead to healthier athletes but also foster long-term success, both for players and their organizations.
Let’s ditch the outdated notion that biomechanics can be boiled down to a formula. Instead, let’s celebrate the complexity of each athlete, building training plans that respect and enhance their unique abilities. The future of baseball development lies in personalization, ensuring that players remain durable, adaptable, and injury-free for years to come.