Why “Fixing” a Pitcher’s Mechanics Might Make Them a Worse Player

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 -   / 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 -    • The Surgeon Who Saved Sports - Meet Dr. An...   Stop Blaming Her Hormones — The Real Cause of ACL Injuries in Female Athletes -    • Stop Blaming Her Hormones — The Real Cause...   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.bostonorthopedicandwellne... 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