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Throwing Shoulder Injuries — SIGMA Engineered Recovery for Overhead Athletes

Whether you’re a pitcher, volleyball player, tennis pro or weekend warrior, we map mechanics → injury → recovery so you return stronger, faster.

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Thrower’s Shoulder 100-Day Roadmap (PDF)

Unlock Your Best Throw — SIGMA Precision for the Overhead Athlete

Whether you’re a high-school pitcher, a collegiate volleyball outside hitter, a weekend tennis competitor, or a crossover athlete with throwing demands — your shoulder does more than just move. It accelerates. It decelerates. It delivers. And when something goes off-track — velocity drops, fatigue sets in, mechanics change — you need more than generic rehab.

At SIGMA Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, our approach fuses elite surgical expertise, high-precision biomechanics, and performance-engineering to get you back to competition stronger, more efficient, and with less risk of setback. The video below walks you through the key phases of throwing-mechanics failure, how we assess your shoulder under load, and why “thrower’s shoulder” is not just a shoulder problem — it’s a kinetic-chain, strength, and tissue-health issue all rolled together.

Watch now to see how we use our 100-Days-to-Success™ framework, advanced throw-velocity mapping, and next-level biologic support to accelerate your recovery — and then when you’re ready, let’s schedule your personalized assessment and “Thrower’s Shoulder Roadmap” session.

Understanding the Throwing Shoulder

Why Overhead Throwing Injures the Shoulder

  • Explanation of thrower’s kinetic chain, high torque, late-cocking phase, GIRD, scapular dyskinesis. Reference studies showing GIRD and posterior shoulder tightness in throwers. 
  • Use an interactive SVG or motion diagram: phases of throw (wind-up → cocking → acceleration → deceleration) with hotspots where injuries commonly occur (labrum, posterior cuff, posterior capsule).
  • Emphasize your Six Sigma mechanical assessment: motion capture/biomechanics, kinetic chain testing, throw velocity tracking.
Shoulder Anatomy
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SIGMA Diagnosis & Mapping Flow

Precision Diagnosis for Throwers

Comprehensive history

(sport, workload, prior injuries)

Physical exam specific to throwers

measurement, scapular check, late-cocking tests

Targeted imaging only

as needed (MRI with ABER, ultrasound)

Biomechanical throw analysis

Six Sigma checklist for modifiable risks

Shared decision

non-ops with thrower-specific plan vs operative if structural damage

Outcome tracking

Thrown velocity, strength asymmetry, return-to-sport benchmark

Non-Surgical First-Line Pathway

Rebuild Your Throwing Shoulder Without Surgery

  • Emphasize rest/modification of throw count, load management.
  • Mechanics: correct posterior capsule stiffness, scapular dyskinesis, GIRD – reference literature.
  • Strength: rotator cuff endurance, scapular stabilizers, core & lower/leg chain.
  • Biologic adjuncts: mention your SynerG Orthobiologic Suite (PRP/A2M/BMAC) for selected cases (e.g., symptomatic impingement, partial cuff involvement)
Thrower’s Shoulder Home Program (PDF)
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When Surgery Is Needed

Surgical Intervention — When Load > Tissue + Mechanics

  • Indications: structural damage (labral tear, posterior cuff tear, significant GIRD with bony changes), failure of high-quality rehab.
  • Procedures: arthroscopic labrum repair, posterior capsular release/plication, cuff repair, thrower-specific reconstructions.
  • Emphasize outcomes: show stats about return to sport, velocity regain, your clinical philosophy of restoring motion/velocity, not just repairing tissue.
  • Biologics: when repair augmented with SynerG for enhanced healing.
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The 100 Days Framework

Transforming the traditional recovery timeline, the SIGMA 100 Days to Health™ program blends clinical precision, process engineering, and human connection.
Phase
Timeline
Focus
Your Role
Optimize
Days –10 to 0
Prehabilitation, nutrition, home setup, risk mitigation
Prepare and complete baseline surveys
Perform
Day 0
Precision surgery & safety systems
Trust your team
Recover
Days 1–30
Pain management, early motion, wound healing
Engage daily and communicate
Rebuild
Days 31–90
Strength, endurance, and mobility
Stay consistent with therapy
Verify
Day 100
Outcome benchmarking & celebration
Review your SIGMA Scoreboard

Understanding the Throwing Shoulder

Why Overhead Throwing Injures the Shoulder

  • Explanation of thrower’s kinetic chain, high torque, late-cocking phase, GIRD, scapular dyskinesis. Reference studies showing GIRD and posterior shoulder tightness in throwers. 
  • Use an interactive SVG or motion diagram: phases of throw (wind-up → cocking → acceleration → deceleration) with hotspots where injuries commonly occur (labrum, posterior cuff, posterior capsule).
  • Emphasize your Six Sigma mechanical assessment: motion capture/biomechanics, kinetic chain testing, throw velocity tracking.
Shoulder Anatomy
stock image

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Throwing generates extreme rotational force. Pain often arises from micro-tears or inflammation of the labrum, rotator cuff, or capsule—especially during the late cocking or deceleration phases.
GIRD (Glenohumeral Internal-Rotation Deficit) is a loss of shoulder rotation common in throwers. It can increase shear forces on the labrum and lead to pain or velocity loss. Rehabilitation focuses on restoring rotation symmetry.
Most throwing-related injuries improve with structured rehabilitation that restores mechanics and shoulder control. The SIGMA protocol combines mechanical correction, biologic support, and phased return-to-throw milestones.
Surgery is considered when imaging shows significant labral or rotator cuff tearing, or if high-level athletes cannot regain pain-free velocity despite rehab. Procedures include arthroscopic labral repair or posterior cuff repair.
Yes. The SynerG Orthobiologic Suite—PRP, A2M, and BMAC—can reduce inflammation and accelerate tissue healing when integrated into a structured 100-Day recovery plan.

Shoulder Injuries in Throwing Athletes

Conditions & Treatments

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Throwing Shoulder Injuries

Introduction

What are throwing injuries in the shoulder?

The shoulder of baseball pitchers and football quarterbacks undergoes five stages when throwing a ball: wind-up, early cocking, late cocking, acceleration, and follow-through. Since these athletes usually throw objects at such high speeds, their shoulder structures are subjected to a high amount of stress, particularly during late cocking and follow-through, to maintain the humeral head (upper arm bone) position within the glenoid socket of the scapula (shoulder blade). When the shoulder joint is repeatedly stressed with high-velocity throwing, the other structures compensate for the load, ultimately resulting in throwing shoulder injuries. Athletes that repetitively perform high-velocity throwing motions, like those seen in basketball, football, volleyball, and baseball, have a greater likelihood of experiencing throwing shoulder injuries. Dr. Frank McCormick, orthopedic shoulder specialist serving Orlando, Palm Beach County, and surrounding Florida communities, has the knowledge and understanding, as well as substantial experience, in treating throwing shoulder injuries.

What are the symptoms of throwing shoulder injuries?

The symptoms of throwing shoulder injuries often vary and are based on the type of injury sustained by the shoulder joint. Individuals often report shoulder pain with activity that is more noticeable with lifting or lowering of the affected arm. This shoulder pain can also be more evident at night when lying on the affected shoulder. Some other common symptoms of throwing shoulder injuries include:
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Shoulder weakness
  • Shoulder stiffness
  • A “popping” or “grinding” sensation within the shoulder joint

How are throwing shoulder injuries diagnosed?

A detailed medical history will first be obtained by Dr. McCormick with a focus on any prior shoulder injuries, underlying health conditions, and current symptoms. A physical examination will then follow to evaluate the affected shoulder’s stability, strength, and range of motion. While the medical history and physical examination together are generally enough to diagnose throwing shoulder injuries, diagnostic imaging studies, such as x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are also useful tools in identifying damage to the other shoulder joint structures.

What is the treatment for throwing shoulder injuries?

Non-surgical treatment:
Conservative therapies are the first line of treatment for throwing shoulder injuries. A combination of rest, ice, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can minimize any pain and inflammation associated with this condition. Modifying and/or limiting the shoulder activity that precipitated this injury is highly advised to prevent any further damage to the shoulder joint. Dr. McCormick can administer a corticosteroid injection directly into the shoulder joint if symptoms persist with oral medications. A physical rehabilitation program focused on strengthening the shoulder muscles and improving range of motion will be prescribed when appropriate.
Surgical treatment:
A number of patient factors, such as age, medical history, activity level, and current symptoms, will be reviewed by Dr. McCormick to determine if more invasive treatment is necessary. There are two surgical approaches that have been successful in treating throwing shoulder injuries:
  • Arthroscopy. This is the preferred surgical repair option by patients and surgeons alike for treating throwing shoulder injuries. This minimally invasive procedure uses a small camera (arthroscope) to meticulously analyze the shoulder joint structures. Specialized surgical instruments are then introduced to address any intra-operative findings, such as damage to the shoulder ligaments, rotator cuff, or labrum.
  • Open surgery. Patients with extensive soft-tissue damage to multiple shoulder joint structures are ideal candidates for open surgery. This surgical approach involves a slightly larger incision allowing Dr. McCormick to visualize the entire shoulder joint while conducting the necessary repairs.
For more information on shoulder labrum and SLAP tear repairs, or to discuss your shoulder labrum treatment options, please contact the office of Frank McCormick, MD, orthopedic shoulder doctor serving Orlando, Kissimmee, Palm Beach County, Florida, and the surrounding areas.
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SIGMA ORTHOPEDIC MD
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Shoulder

Resources

Shoulder Anatomy
Shoulder PT protocols

Conditions

Shoulder Impingement
AC joint injuries
Partial Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears
SICK Scapula Syndrome
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Labral and SLAP Tears
Shoulder Dislocation | Shoulder Instability
Throwing Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder Fractures

Treatments

Arthroscopic Shoulder Labral Repair Techniques
Advanced Treatment Options for Shoulder Osteoarthritis
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
Labral-SLAP Repairs
Shoulder Instability Repairs
AC Joint Reconstruction
Biceps Surgery
Shoulder Tendon Repairs
Shoulder Dislocation Repair
Pectoralis Major Tendon Repair
Frozen Shoulder Repair
Clavicle Fracture Repair
Diagnostic Shoulder Arthroscopy
Biceps tenodesis
Arthroscopic SLAP repair surgery
Arthroscopic Capsular Release
BMAC stem cell injections for Shoulder Pain