The key to winning a gold medal - Part 6
Our discussion begins with a former high school baseball powerhouse pitcher who shares, "I don't have pain, but my shoulder hasn't fully raised since my high school baseball days." Upon further inquiry, he reveals, "In middle school, I excelled as a pitcher, but upon entering high school, my ① control worsened, and my ② speed declined. The baseball coach suggested transitioning from overhand to underhand pitching due to difficulty raising my shoulder. Although successful with underhand pitching, securing a spot in the team as the second pitcher, my shoulder injury during batting practice resulted in missing the chance to participate in the Koshien tournament – a bitter experience." While the current shoulder issue doesn't significantly impact his life, a profound backstory unfolds.
The 15-year-old shoulder received treatment, remarkably improving in about 15 minutes. Reflecting on this swift improvement raises questions about whether something could have been done during his active pitching years 15 years ago. Perhaps it wasn't an injury but accumulated fatigue that hindered performance? This alternative perspective aligns better with the story.
Rewriting the story under this assumption, "In middle school, excelling as an overhand pitcher, accumulated fatigue restricted shoulder movement, leading to forced, improper overhand pitching with compromised control. The shoulder's limited mobility affected arm swing and reduced speed. To address these issues, an undesired transition to underhand pitching was suggested, securing a position as the team's second pitcher. Shoulder conditions remained unchanged. Proper guidance on relieving shoulder fatigue or attentive monitoring might have maintained control, eliminating the need for an underhand switch. Staying with overhand pitching, speed might have been preserved, potentially securing the first pitcher position. Without shoulder fatigue, the chance to participate in the dream Koshien tournament might not have been missed. Conditioning could have profoundly altered the athlete's life."
Based on this story, let's explore what could have been done for better results.
Point 1: Escaping a Slump
Echoing Ichiro Suzuki's advice of doing "nothing" to escape a slump, neutralizing emotions and returning the body to a neutral position is crucial before attempting technical adjustments. A clear starting line is necessary for effective corrections.
Point 2: Identifying Issues
When overhand pitching control declined, observing wrist, elbow, and shoulder movements meticulously could have revealed restrictions, possibly leading to positive outcomes.
Point 3: Assessing Shoulder Movement
Observing six basic shoulder movements can provide insights into the extent of normal functionality.
Point 4: Improving Shoulder Movement
Addressing pain or limited mobility often involves targeting the stiff areas through self-massage and stretching. Focused and goal-oriented approaches yield better results.
Point 5: Holistic Approach
Shoulder problems may not originate solely around the shoulder. Exploring the opposite ends of muscles connected to the spine might reveal tension points that, when released, can improve shoulder movement.
Knowing Not to Overlook Long-standing Problems
After 4-6 weeks, sufficient time for recovery from non-specialized issues, lack of improvement suggests a misdirection. Regularly reviewing conditioning with points 1-5 is advisable.
Reasons for Persistent Issues
Initial interventions prioritize pain control, often overlooking movement restrictions. Pain associated with motion (end motion) may be ignored due to its intermittent nature, leading to long-term strain without awareness. Larger problems accumulate gradually, making it essential to address chronic symptoms promptly.
This "Winning a Gold Medal" guide emphasizes addressing both conspicuous and inconspicuous issues, finding ①invisible, ②difficult-to-feel, ③endurable problems. Alternatively, athletes should actively share concerns to pinpoint problems. This high-level conditioning approach, honed through supporting nearly 20 Olympic athletes from Japan, Canada, Spain, Poland, has garnered trust and resulted in gold medals. Applying this experience daily benefits patients in Toronto.