Recovery

When we think of overhead athletes, the “big” sports come to mind: baseball, tennis,volleyball, etc. However, have you ever thought about football linemen? The American football offensive linemen is a position that utilizes upper body strength and stability to move defensive players around to protect the quarterback or to open holes for the running back. Even though proper blocking technique wouldn’t indicate that the offensive lineman has his hands overhead, the force placed on the shoulders when attempting to control another player trying to make a tackle can be extremely intense and could cause shear forces leading to labral pathology.

The quarterback position has become extremely competitive over the past few years with the progression of the passing game. Quarterbacks are under the microscope more than any other position on the field from a young age, all the way into the pros. Each year we watch our local or national sports channels and hear who the up-and-coming quarterbacks will be taking the field this year. This of course, is if that player can stay healthy and “make all the throws”. As a physical therapist, I ask the question,what are the proper mechanics needed to become a great quarterback and can breakdowns in these mechanics cause injuries?