For Athletic Recovery & Performance

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness Pitchers need power, mobility, and control — not just brute strength. While many exercises build general athleticism, some movements actually work against the throwing athlete’s goals. Certain lifts or “old-school” exercises can limit shoulder mobility, stress the elbow, or alter movement patterns that are critical for performance and arm health. Disclaimer: the opinions below

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness Golf may look like a low-impact sport, but the golf swing generates tremendous rotational forces throughout the spine and the body. Repetitive swings, long practice sessions, carrying clubs, walking uneven terrain, and limited mobility can lead to pain and injury over the course of a season. Research suggests that more than half of golfers will experience a musculoskeletal inj

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness Pickleball has become one of the fastest-growing sports in America, attracting players of all ages and skill levels. Its social atmosphere, relatively small court size, and accessibility make it easy to start—but the quick bursts of movement, repetitive swings, and sudden directional changes can place significant stress on your body. Whether you're a recreational player or a co

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness 🎾 Tennis is one of the most physically demanding sports, requiring explosive power, quick changes of direction, rotational strength, and repetitive overhead movements. Whether you're competing in junior tournaments, playing USTA leagues, or enjoying recreational matches, the repetitive demands of serving, sprinting, and hitting thousands of strokes can lead to overuse injuries

Not All Physical Therapy Is Created Equal Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness When an athlete gets injured, one of the first recommendations is often physical therapy. But many athletes, parents, and coaches don't realize there is a significant difference between traditional physical therapy and sports physical therapy. While both approaches aim to reduce pain and improve function, sports physical therapy goes fa

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness Rotator cuff injuries are one of the most common shoulder problems faced by baseball and softball players. These injuries can sideline athletes for weeks or even seasons if not properly understood and treated. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know: anatomy, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and sports medicine insights. 🎯What Is the Rotat

Little League Shoulder is a common overuse injury in youth baseball and softball players. Learn the causes, symptoms, treatment options, and prevention strategies from sports physical therapy experts in Algonquin, IL.

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness Baseball and softball are deceptively demanding sports. While they may not have constant contact or continuous play, they place high repetitive stress on the shoulder, elbow, spine, and hips—especially in overhead athletes. Recovery isn’t just about “resting your arm.” It’s about actively restoring tissue capacity, maintaining mobility, and preparing the body for the next perio

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness A Short History of Pitch Count Rules Before the mid-2000s, most youth leagues did not track pitch counts. Instead, pitching limits were based on innings pitched per week. For example, youth pitchers were commonly limited to six innings per week, regardless of how many pitches were thrown in those innings. In some cases, pitchers could throw well over 100 pitches in a single out

By Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS Sports Physical Therapist and Overhead Throwing Specialist Athletic Edge and Wellness -Algonquin Swimming is one of the most physically demanding sports, requiring a combination of endurance, strength, flexibility, and precise technique. Whether you're a competitive swimmer or training for fitness, your body is exposed to repetitive overhead motion, high shoulder loads, and continuous core engagement. Over time, even small imbalances can lead to p

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness 🏐 Volleyball is a sport built on power, precision, and agility . Every serve, spike, and dive demands explosive movement and full-body coordination—especially from the shoulders, hips, and knees . To perform at your best and stay on the court all season, your body needs more than skill work. It needs strength, balance, mobility, and recovery . That’s where physical therapy for volleybal

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness Edge 💪 Shoulder pain in young baseball and softball players should never be dismissed as “just growing pains.” One of the most common overuse injuries in youth throwers is Little League Shoulder —a stress injury to the growth plate of the upper arm caused by repetitive throwing. This condition most commonly affects athletes ages 9–16 , when the growth plates are still developi

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness Youth baseball continues to grow in popularity, but with increased competition and year-round play comes a higher risk of overuse injuries. One of the most common elbow injuries in young throwing athletes is Little League Elbow . Little League Elbow is an overuse injury that affects the growth plate on the inside of the elbow in young athletes. It is most commonly seen in baseb

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness Rotator cuff injuries are one of the most common shoulder problems faced by baseball and softball players. These injuries can sideline athletes for weeks or even seasons if not properly understood and treated. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know: anatomy, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and sports medicine insights. What Is the Rotator

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness As the high school and spring baseball season approaches, athletes must take the necessary steps to ensure they are physically and mentally prepared for peak performance. Proper preparation helps reduce injury risk, improve throwing performance, and maintain durability throughout the season. Many baseball injuries occur early in the season when athletes ramp up too quickly afte

Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS | Algonquin Sports PT Overhead Throwing Expert-Athletic Edge and Wellness Biceps tendonitis is a common condition that affects overhead throwing athletes, particularly baseball and softball players. The repetitive, high-velocity motion of throwing places significant stress on the structures of the shoulder and elbow. Over time, this stress can lead to irritation and inflammation of the long head of the biceps tendon, a key stabilizer of the shoulder

By Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS Overhead Throwing Specialist Owner, Athletic Edge and Wellness Introduction The off-season phase presents a prime window to build athletic qualities, refine movement mechanics, and prepare for the upcoming competitive period. One often under-utilized tool in this phase is the medicine ball. In this blog we’ll explore why the medicine ball is a meaningful tool for off-season programming: the pros, the cons, key techniques, the research base, and pr

By Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS Overhead Throwing Specialist Owner Athletic Edge and Wellness Shoulder mobility is crucial for all baseball and softball athletes, but especially for pitchers and outfielders who work through extreme ranges of motion every throw. Good shoulder mobility allows for efficient movement, better performance, and reduced injury risk. Because the shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, it must maintain a delicate balance of mobility and stability

By: Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS Overhead Throwing Specialist Athletic Edge and Wellness Physical Therapy Whether you're coaching high-level competitors or guiding youth athletes through their early development, one thing is clear: movement matters. Strength, speed, and skill all depend on how well the body moves — and more importantly, how well it moves without compensation or risk of injury . That’s where a physical therapy movement screen comes in. It’s more than just a chec

Off-Season PREP: A Game Plan for Baseball Athletes Kathy Ryan-Ceisel, PT MHS Athletic Edge and Wellness - Overhead Throwing Expert Summer ball is done—but your baseball journey isn’t. The off-season is a powerful time to recharge, assess, and come back stronger. Use our P.R.E.P. Method to guide recovery, evaluation, and preparation for next season: P – Preview the Next Season R – Recover from the Grind E – Evaluate Your Performance P – Prepare for What’s Next 🧭 PREVIEW: Lo