Send us a text

A high school pitcher was told to rest, stretch, and wait it out—yet every week hurt more than the last. We took a different route: test how he moves under real conditions, then rebuild the pattern from the ground up. What we found was simple and powerful. His upper traps were calling the shots, his lat was stuck in neutral, and his pelvis and scapula were speaking different languages. Once we taught the shoulder blade to depress and the hips to hinge, pain gave way to clean mechanics and confident throws.

We walk you through the exact tests we used—the shoulder coordination test that exposes trap dominance, the squat screen that reveals pelvic control, and how serratus activation becomes the missing link for overhead athletes. You’ll hear why scapulohumeral rhythm matters for deceleration, how the lat connects shoulder and spine stability, and what changes when the body redistributes work from “always on” neck muscles to true stabilizers like lower traps and lats. The before-and-after details are striking: better thoracic extension, more space at end range, and a squat that preserves spinal curves while generating real force.

From there, we map the training plan that stuck: high-rep scapular depression with serratus, a catcher squat that grooves hip hinge and lordosis, and a steady ramp of throwing volume to 300 pain-free towel and ball throws a week. Along the way, we tackle the bigger lesson for players and parents—ask why every drill exists, demand a clear cause-and-effect, and measure what matters. If imaging is clean but movement is noisy, the fix is in the pattern. Subscribe for more case studies, share this with a pitcher who needs a roadmap back to the mound, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway so we can keep saving arms together.

Support the show

The Velocity Rx podcast mission is to help save one million arms by giving the very best mechanical, health, and arm care information to it's listeners.

Send us a text

Stop stretching the shoulder to a place it can’t control. We dig into the myth of “layback” and explain why forcing passive end range is a fast track to labrum wear, elbow pain, and shortened careers—especially for growing athletes. With inventor and coach Jason Colleran of Kinetic Arm, we unpack what actually builds safe velocity: thoracic extension, scapular depression, and pec extensibility that create a stable power position, plus foot and hip mechanics that unlock rotation without requiring the shoulder to bear the brunt of the load.

We break down the difference between range of motion and available joint position, why timing and center of mass matter more than still photos, and how a simple change, such as externally rotating the back foot, can open “layback” from below rather than yanking from above. Jason shares how constraint-based training and the Kinetic Arm sleeve provide proprioceptive feedback, limit harmful passive extremes, and support post-op throwers rebuilding horizontal abduction and external rotation. We also focus on the scapulohumeral rhythm, avoiding upper trap dominance, and offloading stressed tissues, such as the supraspinatus, by improving the first degrees of abduction and upward rotation.

Along the way, we call out the training culture that confuses volume with intention and protocols with precision. Maxing in passive ranges, cookie-cutter rehab, and viral cues that ignore structure all drive the injury epidemic. The fix is simple, not easy: assess daily, define a clear goal for each drill, align lines of force with anatomy, and teach athletes to own mid-range positions before they chase speed. When the chain is set—foot to hip to trunk to scapula—the arm stops compensating and velocity becomes a byproduct of efficiency, not a gamble with connective tissue.

If you care about throwing harder and longer without sacrificing your shoulder or elbow, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a coach or parent who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest myth you want us to tackle next.

Support the show

The Velocity Rx podcast mission is to help save one million arms by giving the very best mechanical, health, and arm care information to it's listeners.

Send us a text

Ever wondered why so many young pitchers are suffering devastating elbow injuries? Dr. Kevin McGovern pulls back the curtain on the rehabilitation process with a fascinating real-time coaching session featuring 15-year-old Aiden, who's battling back from multiple elbow injuries.

The episode reveals a revolutionary approach to arm care that challenges conventional wisdom. Rather than extended rest periods, we witness the power of daily throwing practice—with either baseballs or towels—combined with unconventional methods like basketball shooting to maintain elbow extension. Dr. McGovern methodically breaks down what he calls the "Tommy John formula"—three critical mechanical flaws destroying young pitchers' arms: drifting forward too early, dragging the back leg, and improper glove-hand technique.

Through Aiden's transformation, viewers gain practical insights into proper mechanics that not only prevent injury but enhance performance. By maintaining weight back longer and releasing closer to home plate, pitchers create what baseball insiders call a "heavy ball" effect—making an 80mph fastball feel like 95mph to hitters. This case study provides a sobering reality check for parents and coaches: mechanical flaws aren't just performance issues; they're ticking time bombs for young arms. The rehabilitation timeline presented offers a realistic perspective on recovery, debunking quick-fix solutions and emphasizing patient, consistent work on mechanics.

What's happening in youth baseball today? Overcoaching and poor mechanics are creating an epidemic of arm injuries. Watch this episode to understand the warning signs, learn proper rehabilitation protocols, and discover how daily work on sound mechanics can save your young pitcher's arm—and perhaps their baseball future. Visit velocityrx.org to learn more about preventing Tommy John injuries and keeping young arms healthy through proper mechanics.

Support the show

The Velocity Rx podcast mission is to help save one million arms by giving the very best mechanical, health, and arm care information to it's listeners.

Send us a text

The alarming rate of arm injuries in baseball isn't just bad luck—it's the predictable outcome of fundamentally flawed mechanical approaches dominating the sport today. In this eye-opening conversation, Chris O'Leary returns to explain why modern pitchers can't stay healthy and what can be done about it.

O'Leary presents compelling visual evidence of what he calls "Flat Arm Syndrome"—a timing problem where the pitching arm is parallel to the ground (not up) when the body begins rotating, creating devastating stress on the elbow and shoulder. Through detailed comparisons of classic pitchers like early-career Verlander, Nolan Ryan, and Tom Seaver with today's injured stars, he demonstrates how modern mechanics have fundamentally changed for the worse.

The discussion doesn't just identify problems but explains their origins. The "Inverted W," "Tommy John twist," and other mechanical shortcuts promoted by velocity programs are systematically breaking down pitchers at all levels. Perhaps most troubling is how these flawed mechanics are being taught to young athletes as the path to success, creating a pipeline of arm injuries waiting to happen.

What makes this conversation particularly powerful is O'Leary's predictive track record. He's correctly identified injury risks in numerous pitchers before they broke down, including Sandy Alcantara and Spencer Schwellenbach. These aren't coincidences but the result of understanding how mechanical flaws inevitably lead to physical breakdown.

The solution isn't complicated training protocols or exotic conditioning—it's about returning to fundamental athletic movements that work with the body's natural biomechanics rather than against them. As O'Leary puts it, "There's no free lunch" in developing velocity; sustainable speed must be built through patience and sound mechanics rather than shortcuts.

Ready to understand baseball's injury epidemic and protect the arms of the next generation? Listen now and discover why the difference between healthy and injured pitchers often comes down to just a few critical mechanical distinctions that anyone can learn to identify.

Support the show

The Velocity Rx podcast mission is to help save one million arms by giving the very best mechanical, health, and arm care information to it's listeners.

Send us a text

Two sports medicine experts pull back the curtain on why young baseball pitchers are getting injured at alarming rates—and it's not what most coaches and trainers think.

Drs. Kevin McGovern and Clay Hammons dive deep into real case studies that reveal the true culprits behind baseball's arm injury epidemic. Through detailed analysis of an 18-year-old pitcher with "dead arm" syndrome and a senior with a partially torn UCL, they demonstrate how poor mechanics—not lack of strength—initiated these preventable injuries.

The doctors methodically dismantle the popular notion that strength training alone can overcome faulty mechanics. "If you have a wheel with five lug nuts and three are stripped off and two are loose and it's wobbling... hitting the gas will just make the wheel fall off faster," explains Dr. McGovern. This vivid analogy perfectly captures why focusing on velocity before fixing mechanical issues is a recipe for disaster.

Parents will find particularly valuable guidance on what to look for in a proper assessment, including red flags that signal it's time to find different care. Both doctors emphasize the critical importance of immediate test-retest protocols that demonstrate measurable improvement in a single session. They also warn about facilities requiring injury waivers—a clear sign to "run."

Whether you're a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode offers crucial insights that challenge conventional wisdom about avoiding arm injuries. The doctors' shared mission comes through powerfully: young players should choose when they stop playing baseball, not have that decision forced upon them by preventable injuries. Follow their systematic approach—assess impairments, treat them, master mechanics, then build velocity—to keep arms healthy for the long haul.

Support the show

The Velocity Rx podcast mission is to help save one million arms by giving the very best mechanical, health, and arm care information to it's listeners.

Send us a text

Dr. Kevin McGovern unveils a groundbreaking approach to understanding and preventing Tommy John injuries through what he calls "The Tommy John Formula." This mathematical framework identifies three critical mechanical flaws that lead pitchers toward catastrophic arm injuries—drift, drag, and shrug. Each component disrupts the natural kinetic chain and places dangerous stress on the throwing arm.

The formula stems from Dr. McGovern's fundamental principle that "movement is math"—meaning there's only one biomechanically correct sequence for throwing a baseball. Everything else represents compensatory patterns that increase injury risk. Using a building analogy, he explains how many coaches focus on advanced "penthouse" exercises while neglecting foundation movement patterns, creating an unstable structure destined for collapse.

Each formula component reveals specific mechanical breakdowns. "Drift" occurs when pitchers shift their center of mass forward too early rather than properly hinging and utilizing lower body power. "Drag" involves inappropriately anchoring the back leg, preventing natural sequencing and energy transfer. "Shrug" violates proper shoulder mechanics by elevating the glove-side shoulder, creating mechanical impingement before throwing even begins.

Most alarming is how these flaws particularly endanger adolescent pitchers aged 11-18 undergoing physical changes. Dr. McGovern contrasts injured pitchers with Aroldis Chapman, who despite unconventional arm action, maintains healthy mechanics through proper sequencing and downhill acceleration. The episode underscores that functional movement capabilities must precede pitching mechanics for arm health.

Ready to protect your arm or your player's future? Visit VelocityRx.org to learn more about the Tommy John formula and access virtual training options that prioritize both performance and long-term health. Your pitching career might depend on understanding these critical biomechanical principles.

Support the show

The Velocity Rx podcast mission is to help save one million arms by giving the very best mechanical, health, and arm care information to it's listeners.

Send us a text

Support the show

The Velocity Rx podcast mission is to help save one million arms by giving the very best mechanical, health, and arm care information to it's listeners.

Send us a text

What happens when proper mechanics meet natural talent? Tyler Ruhl, a junior baseball standout from Virginia, joins Dr. Kevin McGovern to share his remarkable transformation story after implementing the VelocityRx training methodology.

Tyler recently completed a jaw-dropping 41 scoreless inning streak in high school competition while dramatically improving his arm health, recovery time, and overall performance. He takes us through his journey from being primarily a shortstop who occasionally pitched at 82 mph to becoming a versatile threat on the mound with significantly improved velocity, mechanics, and a strikeout count that has already surpassed his previous season's total.

The conversation offers fascinating insights into how movement patterns translate to game-changing results. Tyler describes his initial skepticism about the training approach, which evolved into complete buy-in as he experienced the benefits firsthand. Most impressive is his recent revelation that after throwing 70 pitches in a game, he felt capable of throwing 70 more the very next day – a level of recovery he'd never previously experienced.

Beyond pitching improvements, Tyler reveals how the training has elevated his performance across multiple positions, boosting his infield throwing velocity from 85 to 89 mph and his catching velocity from 79 to 84 mph in just months. For parents and coaches of young athletes, this episode provides compelling evidence that focusing on proper mechanics and movement patterns can simultaneously improve performance, prevent injury, and extend playing careers.

Want to learn how your young athlete can experience similar transformations? Subscribe to the VelocityRx podcast and visit our website to discover how our training methodologies are revolutionizing player development at all levels of baseball.

Support the show

The Velocity Rx podcast mission is to help save one million arms by giving the very best mechanical, health, and arm care information to it's listeners.