| Injuries are not uncommon in sports, and with | | | | worked on that goal, little by little I got closer and |
| injures comes rehabilitation. On one professional | | | | closer. After two months I have better range of |
| baseball roster alone there can be as many as | | | | motion and I was using weights. After four |
| twenty injured players at a time. Some have | | | | months I had strengthened enough move the |
| minimal injuries, others major, but the main factor | | | | weights up and start some more explosive |
| in getting that player back onto the field is rehab. | | | | exercises. Let me tell you, I never knew that it |
| Players with minimal injuries such as pulled muscles | | | | would feel so good to be able to lift my arm over |
| and sprained joints can get quick rehab and be | | | | my head again! Finally after five months I was |
| back playing in no time. The real rehab comes | | | | ready to start a throwing program. It was very |
| when a player has to get orthopedic surgery on a | | | | important to make sure the strength was there |
| specific injury. Examples of common baseball | | | | before starting a throwing program to protect |
| injuries that require surgery are: ACL (Knee), | | | | against and setbacks. |
| Tommy John (Elbow), Rotator Cuff (Shoulder), | | | | The throwing program started small and was a |
| Labrum (Shoulder). The surgery is the easy part, | | | | gradual process. When I say small I mean small, I |
| the three hour or so procedure is nothing but the | | | | started out throwing ten throws at ten feet. |
| rehab after is the tough part; as a matter of fact | | | | Soon the program was up to 45 ft. then 60 and |
| it is a grind. | | | | on forth. Three months after my rehab was |
| May 5th 2005 was my surgery date to repair a | | | | complete was my first day back on the mound, |
| torn labrum. Yes I was scared, I had heard all the | | | | and what a great feeling it was. It was a great |
| bad news about shoulder surgeries but I also | | | | feeling until my first throw, which hurt because it |
| knew that I would work my hardest on the rehab | | | | broke up scar tissue that was built up from the |
| to get back on that field. And that I did on June | | | | surgery. As I continued with the throwing |
| 17th 2006 in the Cape Cod baseball league. It was | | | | program, and mound work I started to have |
| a great feeling, knowing that I made it back from | | | | confidence. Although that confidence was |
| the surgery and I was pitching live again. The one | | | | shattered on numerous occasions due to |
| thing I didn't forget is that 12 months of | | | | soreness or fatigue, I was able the work through |
| recovery, rehab and throwing programs. I pitched | | | | it. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster just trying to |
| that summer and it was a great experience, | | | | hang on, there were great, good and bad days. |
| better yet my shoulder felt like it was back and | | | | Just to clear it up, while I was doing this throwing |
| getting stronger everyday. At the end of that | | | | program, I was also still continuing my rehab, |
| summer, while in negotiations with the LA Angels | | | | which at this point was more maintaining then |
| I looked back on the struggles and fulfillment of | | | | strengthening. |
| rehab. | | | | The season was steadily approaching and I just |
| The rehab started actually before I had surgery, | | | | wanted up to par on where I wanted to be when |
| they called it "prehab." For two weeks before | | | | the season started. My only option was to not |
| surgery I was in the training room at the | | | | start the season on time and wait until I felt 100 |
| University of San Diego working on strengthening | | | | percent (Although I still question if anyone can feel |
| my shoulder before surgery. Those two weeks | | | | 100 percent after a major surgery). For me that |
| went by and it was time for the surgery. Once | | | | percentage just didn't come in time and I was left |
| out of surgery I was on a five week plan of | | | | without that adrenalin for a whole baseball year. It |
| doing nothing with my left arm, I was in a sling | | | | was hard to watch my team out there battling |
| the whole time. It was tough to do the normal | | | | and I was not there to contribute. March, April |
| everyday stuff like: writing, changing clothes, | | | | and May passed and at this time I decided to |
| showering, sleeping and eating to name a couple. | | | | red-shirt and gain another year. So although I |
| Soon there after I was ready for my rehab to | | | | didn't reach the goal of getting back on the |
| start. One important thing about rehab is always | | | | mound by the time season started, I knew that I |
| have a goal to achieve during the process. My | | | | didn't rush back and I would be better in the long |
| goal was to be ready for the next season which | | | | run. |
| started in February. So four days a week I | | | | |