Have you ever wondered why knee injuries among pitchers are on the rise?

Let’s dive into one crucial factor: understanding and respecting individual motor preferences.

For Posterior Muscle Chain (PM Chain) athletes, their natural way of moving specific handling. For example, a pitcher like Blake Snell, who generates power from a plyometric “bounce,” should never use his back foot as an anchor, unlike someone like Yu Darvish, who relies on anchoring for power.

If PM Chain athletes are coached to stay over the rubber or to “corkscrew” into their delivery—concepts better suited for concentric athletes—they risk serious issues. This approach conflicts with the natural movement patterns of their lower body and can lead to cumulative joint stress, particularly in the knees.

Here’s why:

• PM Chain athletes rely on their shoulders and head to lead the movement, which determines foot placement.
• Their stance typically starts higher, with less knee flexion and feet shoulder-width apart, creating explosive, plyometric power.
• Forcing them into movements designed for concentric athletes not only diminishes performance but also increases the likelihood of injury.

The Key Takeaway:

Coaches must respect each athlete’s natural motor preferences. 

When we ignore these unique movement patterns, we unintentionally put our athletes at greater risk of harm than we do helping them excel.

As professionals, we need to move away from one-size-fits-all coaching and embrace an individualized approach. After all, understanding how an athlete’s body works is just as important as what they do on the field.