Preventing Shoulder Injuries

Are You Preventing Shoulder Injuries? “Think Opposite!”

This is an article by Michael Reid, B.HE. CSCS, RKC on preventing shoulder injuries that I wanted to share with you:

Abstract: The specific repetitive activity of water polo, like baseball pitching, emphasizes adduction and internal rotation. This study used the Cybex II to evaluate the isokinetic strength of the rotator cuff in elite water polo players and in a group of control subjects. The water polo players were significantly stronger than the controls. Of greater importance was the confirmation of imbalances in the rotator cuff force couples of adduction/abduction and external/internal rotation. These changes are similar to those reported for pitchers. The adductors in the water polo group had gained in relative strength resulting in an increase in the adduction/abduction ratio to about 2:1. The internal rotators had gained in relative strength resulting in a decrease in the external/internal ratio to about 0.6:1. For both force couples the differences are more apparent at a slow speed. Side-to-side differences were not significant. My Comments: This and other similar articles are important to remember and think about when designing strength training programs for Water Polo athletes. I believe that the first thing all strength programs need to do is keep the athlete healthy. Look at the sport and do the opposite! It may seem contrary to conventional thought, especially when you think of specificity but there is a cost for only doing sport specific training and that cost is usually pain and injury. Coach Ryan’s Summary: Look at the sport and do the opposite! Basically, spend more time on training your pulling muscles and external rotators of the shoulder. This is a key to effective programing for the Water Polo player and is outlined in many of the articles I have written here on Water Polo Planet.

READ THE REST OF THE RESEARCH REVIEW HERE.

Have your athlete evaluated by a Champion’s QUEST Athlete Performance Coach to make sure they have the proper upper body strength balance to prevent a shoulder injury from occurring Click HERE for more information.

Athlete in the News

Champion’s QUEST Athlete Orla Brazell Makes 1st Team All-Moore League!

Congratulations Orla! We wish you all the best at San Diego State next year! We are so happy, yet not surprised, that all your years of dedicated training has earned you 1st Team All Moore League and a scholarship to San Diego State!

To see the full article go to LB POST SPORTS.COM

Signing Day

Champion’s QUEST Athlete has her Official Signing Day

It was a special day for senior Long Beach Poly water polo player Orla Brazell on Wednesday. She had her official signing with California State University San Diego. Ryan Bishel from Champion’s QUEST was there to witness this milestone for Orla and her family.

Derrick Campbell, her Athletic Performance Coach, had the following to say: “Since Orla started her training program in October 2008 she has always had a strong focus on her goals. She accomplished nearly every goal that the set for herself 2 years ago. For having such a hectic schedule, training, practice and most importantly school, Orla stayed committed to her strength development program and now she can eat the fruit of her labor! She has a strong work ethic and is extremely self motivated when it comes to her training program. Any collegiate coach would want an athlete with the same traits as Orla. It makes me proud to see Orla reach her goal of receiving a scholarship from a school that has been a top choice for her. I wish her the best in success at SDSU!”

History is being made with a new first for the Jackrabbit Program, Brazell becomes the first signee to a Women’s Division One Water Polo Program. Coach Pentilla stated: “I’m proud of Orla’s commitment to water polo.  Her hard work has paid off, she has become a fine player, who always competes to the best of her abilities.  I would categorize her style as aggressive.  Her very accurate outside shot averages of 3 goals per game totaling 60 goals so far for our season. Thus contributing steadily to our teams success.  Brazell is an all around team player, regularly setting up her teammates with assists for shots on goal.  As a smart player, with great water polo IQ she will continue to improve at the next level.”

Wishing Orla all the best with the Aztecs at San Diego State
Coach Scott Penttila, Poly H.S. Long Beach

Stats for Orla Brazell: Year to date 2009-2010 Season:
Scored 61 Goals/ 20 games  Average 3 goals per game

FROM SDSU Coach Crawford: Orla Brazell will come to Montezuma Mesa after completing her high school eligibility at Long Beach (Calif.) Poly. An ambidextrous player who has sprinter, wing and utility experience at the Junior Olympic level, Brazell has averaged three goals, two assists and more than three steals per game over her career. During her time at Long Beach Poly, Brazell has recorded 64 goals, 46 assists and 70 steals, while winning 24 of 28 sprints. The 2009 ODP training team athlete is also an outstanding member of the Long Beach Poly swim team.

“As a left-handed attacker, Orla will bring an added dimension to our offense,” Crawford said. “She contributes on both sides of the ball very effectively, with a balanced stat line in every game she plays. Orla is also a very ambitious student-athlete who has the desire, drive and work ethic to help us achieve our goals. Orla is the type of athlete who will have a steep learning curve in college, and I’m really looking forward to coaching her.”

You can read more about other athletes at signing day here at LB POST SPORTS.

Congratulations on your success Orla! All of us at Champion’s QUEST are so proud of you! You have really worked hard over the years and it has obviously paid off. Your story is a true testament of what a strong work ethic, dedicated athletic development program and desire to be the best can bring to ones life! We wish you nothing but the best at San Diego State as well as in life!

(Top) Orla signs her official commitment letter with her parents at her side.

(Bottom)Champion’s QUEST Athlete Orla Brazell with the rest of her classmates at “Signing Day.”