NY Times Article Proves Stretching Is Dangerous For Pitchers

by Dick Mills on November 05, 2008

Should pitchers stretch before they throw or pitch? Not according to the latest research.  The latest research actually proves that pitchers who stretch before they pitch not only lose pitching velocity but also increase their risk of injury.

Over the last month I posted stories about two high school pitchers who ended up with torn labrums in their pitching shoulders at the hands of one ignorant PE teacher and the other a high school junior varsity coach...because both were not qualified to teach weight training to undeveloped pitchers. They thought strength was very important for pitchers.  The research proves that it is not.

In January 2004 I posted an article on our Member's Forums about the study proving that stretching before pitching not only reduces velocity but also increases the risk of injuries to not only the shoulder and elbow but also to the hips and lower body. And yet coaches at all levels continue to have pitchers (and position players) stretch before games and practice... even at the big league levels. They too are not well informed.

Here is a similar article on stretching from the NY Times that was posted on our Member's Forums Nov. 3, 2008: http://tinyurl.com/6nzv9c 

There is also a great little video you should watch that demonstrates some nice dynamic stretches.