Sports physical therapy & performance training in Algonquin, IL
Sports Specific Care
Arm Care Assessment
The Full Count™: Baseball & Softball Arm Care Assessment
​Know Your Body. Own Your Performance.
A Comprehensive Baseball & Softball Arm Care Assessment in Algonquin, IL
Your throwing arm doesn't work alone.
Every throw depends on how your feet, legs, hips, core, spine, shoulder, scapula, elbow, forearm, and hand work together.
That's why The Full Count™ is more than a traditional arm care assessment.
It is a comprehensive throwing-athlete assessment designed to identify the physical limitations, strength deficits, mobility restrictions, movement patterns, asymmetries, and mechanical factors that may be affecting your arm health and performance.
At Athletic Edge and Wellness, we combine objective physical testing, full-body movement assessment, throwing-arm evaluation, and video analysis to create a personalized plan based on your body, your sport, your position, your goals, and your current level of play.
You can't fix what you don't assess.
​
What Is The Full Count™?
The Full Count™ is Athletic Edge and Wellness' home grown comprehensive baseball and softball arm care and performance assessment.
​
Traditional arm care often focuses primarily on the shoulder and elbow.
​
But throwing is a full-body movement.
​
A limitation in the hip can affect the pelvis.
​
A limitation in the spine can affect trunk rotation.
​
Poor lower-body strength can change how force is transferred.
​
Poor scapular control can alter shoulder mechanics.
​
Shoulder weakness can affect the ability to accelerate and decelerate the arm.
​
And mechanical changes can occur when the body cannot efficiently create or transfer force.
​
The Full Count™ looks at the athlete as a complete system. We assess the physical foundation behind the throw and then connect those findings to throwing mechanics and performance.
Why Athletes Need More Than an Arm Care Program
An athlete can perform their arm exercises consistently and still have physical limitations and constraints that may be affecting their throwing. Even small changes in the body can have profound effect on how you move, throw and ultimately how you perform
For example:
-
Limited shoulder mobility
-
Shoulder strength deficits
-
Side-to-side asymmetry
-
Poor scapular control
-
Limited thoracic spine mobility
-
Hip mobility restrictions
-
Hip weakness or instability
-
Poor single-leg control
-
Limited core stability
-
Poor movement sequencing
-
Grip or forearm strength differences
-
Inefficient throwing mechanics
-
Poor force transfer through the kinetic chain
Research has identified relationships between shoulder range of motion, strength, workload, previous pain, and upper-extremity injury in baseball athletes. However, no single measurement or screening test can predict whether an athlete will become injured. The value of assessment is identifying modifiable factors that can be addressed through individualized training, rehabilitation, and performance programming.
That's the purpose of The Full Count™.
We don't simply identify a deficit.
We identify what you can do about it.
What Does The Full Count™ Assessment?
Athlete Performance Profile
We start by understanding you. Your assessment begins with a detailed history and discussion of your previous experience, throwing demands, training, and goals.
-
Age and competition level
-
Primary and secondary positions (for HS and travel)
-
Position-specific demands (starter/reliever)
-
Current throwing volume
-
Current training program
-
Current arm-care program
-
Current weight lifting program
-
Previous injuries and impact on performance
-
Previous shoulder or elbow pain
-
Current symptoms
-
Current recovery program
-
Other sports and activities
-
Upcoming competition (tournament/showcases)
-
Short-term performance goals
-
Long-term goals
-
Where do you fall in age-velocity spectrum
-
Metrics from last season
-
Known throwing disconnects
​
A 12-year-old pitcher, a high school catcher, a collegiate position player, and a softball pitcher should not necessarily have the same assessment priorities or training plan.
Shoulder Mobility & Arm Mobility
The throwing shoulder undergoes significant sports-specific adaptations from repetitive overhead throwing.
Rather than simply asking whether you are “flexible,” we look at how your mobility compares side-to-side and how it relates to your individual needs.
Testing may include:​
-
Overhead Reach/Shoulder flexion
-
Reach behind the head-shoulder external rotation
-
Reach behind the back-shoulder internal rotation
-
Side-to-side differences
-
Total shoulder motion
Research has found associations between throwing-arm shoulder range-of-motion deficits and upper-extremity injury in baseball players, although the significance of individual measurements varies by athlete, age, and competition level.
The goal isn't simply to make both shoulders identical. The goal is to determine whether your current mobility is appropriate for your body, your throwing demands, and your performance goals.
Objective Shoulder & Arm Strength Testing
Strength testing takes the assessment beyond simply asking an athlete to “push against resistance.” Objective measurements help us determine where your individual weaknesses or asymmetries are.
Where appropriate, we use objective strength measurements to compare:
​
-
Right vs. Left
-
Strength relative to body weight
-
Internal rotation strength
-
External rotation strength
-
Scaption/shoulder strength
Poor shoulder strength significantly increases the risk of injury in baseball players, particularly in pitchers and other throwing positions.
​
-
Internal rotation strength; ideally should be 25-30% of body weight
-
External rotation strength; ideally should be 15-20% of body weight
​​
-
Muscular imbalance: the strength ratio from external rotation (muscles in the back of the shoulder to the internal rotators (the muscles in the front of the shoulder) should be ratio of 2:3 for external/internal rotation strength.
​​
We utilize the ArmCare App; a mobile application that assesses arm strength and mobility via a hand-held strength sensor.
Grip & Forearm Strength
The hand and forearm are an important part of the throwing chain.
We evaluate grip and forearm strength and can compare:
-
Dominant vs. non-dominant side
-
Absolute strength
-
Strength relative to body weight
-
Side-to-side differences
Grip and forearm findings can be especially relevant for athletes with a history of elbow or forearm symptoms. Decreased grip strength has a high correlation with elbow pain. Grip strength is compared to age related norms.
Why measure strength?
Because throwing requires the athlete to:
Create force → transfer force → accelerate the arm → decelerate the arm → recover for the next throw.
The shoulder and arm need enough strength and endurance to tolerate those demands.
Research has identified preseason strength and range-of-motion measures among factors associated with arm and shoulder injury in certain baseball populations.​​
Scapular Mechanics & Shoulder Stability
The scapula provides the foundation for efficient shoulder movement. The scapula helps to transfer force from the core and legs.
We assess how the shoulder blade moves and functions during different movements and positions.
We look for:
Scapular control/winging
Dynamic stability
Shoulder control
Ability to maintain position during movement
Side-to-side differences
The goal is not simply to determine whether the scapula “looks good.” We want to know whether the athlete can control the scapula while producing and transferring force.
Spine & Thoracic Mobility
Throwing requires coordinated movement through the spine.
The thoracic spine contributes to rotation and positioning during the throwing motion. Poor thoracic movement can also influence shoulder mobility. Restrictions in lumbar mobility can create low back pain in pitcher and hitters.
The Full Count™ evaluates components such as:
-
Cervical rotation
-
Thoracic rotation
-
Lumbar flexion/extension
-
Lumbar rotation
A restriction in one area can influence movement elsewhere. That's why we don't isolate the arm from the rest of the body.
Hip Mobility & Stability
The hips are a critical part of the throwing kinetic chain.
We assess:
-
Hip Mobility
-
Hip internal rotation
-
Hip external rotation
-
Single-leg control
-
Multi-hip stability
-
Hamstring mobility
-
Lower-body movement quality
For throwing athletes, the hips help create and transfer force from the ground and then transfers the power to the trunk and upper extremity. Poor hip mobility and strength can limit power production from the legs and increase stress on the arm.​​
Core Stability & Kinetic Chain Control
The core is more than abdominal strength.
For a throwing athlete, the core must help control the transfer of force between the lower and upper body.
Testing may include:
-
Plank variations
-
Bird dog
-
Trunk control
-
Rotational control
-
Single-leg stability
-
Dynamic movement control
We want to determine whether the athlete can control the forces they create.
Functional Movement Assessment
The Full Count™ evaluates movement quality—not just isolated body parts.
Movement testing may include:
-
Overhead squat
-
Inline lunge
-
Single-leg balance
-
Scapular mechanics
-
Dynamic core stability
​
We look for:
Mobility
Can the athlete access the movement required?
Strength
Can the athlete produce enough force?
Stability
Can the athlete control that force?
Coordination
Can the athlete organize the movement efficiently?
Symmetry
Are meaningful side-to-side differences present?
Movement quality
Can the athlete perform the movement with appropriate control?
​
How physical constraints lead to compensation, performance impairments, and pain
Issue
Poor Leg Strength
Weak Scapular Control
Limited T-Spine Mobility
Poor Serratus Activation
Lack of Core Stability
Compensation
Increased arm action
Shrugging shoulder, winging
Overusing lumbar spine
Scapular winging
Early arm acceleration
Results
Overuse, strain on elbow/shoulder
Loss of velocity, shoulder pain
Back pain, inefficient force transfer
Anterior shoulder stress
Elbow strain (UCL risk)
No amount of drills, coaching, or practice will correct underlying deficits in posture, mobility, or strength.
Throwing Mechanics & Video Assessment
Physical testing tells us about the athlete's physical capabilities. Video helps us connect those findings to the actual throwing motion.
​
For pitchers, we use slow motion video assessment to identify poor movement patterns including timing issues, mechanical inefficiencies, and disconnects in the kinetic energy chain that impair performance or contribute to injury risk. We look at 28 different aspects of upper and lower body loading and unloading.
For our high school, collegiate, and professional athletes, Uplift AI technology can be added to examine kinematic sequencing, rotational speeds of the pelvis, torso, and lead arm, stride length, hip-shoulder separation, and various energy leaks which negatively impact performance and increase risk of injury.
We can evaluate elements such as:
-
Lower-body loading
-
Front-leg mechanics
-
Hip-shoulder separation
-
Trunk position
-
Upper-body loading and unloading
-
Arm action
-
Timing
-
Glove-side mechanics
-
Posture
-
Follow-through
-
Movement sequencing
-
Kinetic-chain efficiency
​Why combine physical testing with video?
Because a physical limitation and a throwing-mechanical issue may be connected.
For example:
Limited hip mobility → altered pelvic movement → changes in trunk timing → altered arm position.
Or:
Poor shoulder stability → compensation during arm acceleration or deceleration.
The Full Count™ helps us connect the dots.
Your Full Count Report
The assessment isn't finished when the testing ends.
Your results are organized into a clear picture of your current physical profile.
Your report can identify:
Strength
Where are you strong?
Where are your relative weaknesses?
Are there meaningful side-to-side differences?
Mobility
Where do you have adequate movement?
Where may mobility need attention?
Stability
Can you control the movement you have?
Movement
Are there movement patterns that deserve attention?
Throwing Mechanics
Are there mechanical patterns or sequencing issues that may be worth addressing?
Priority List
What should you work on first?
From Assessment to Action
This is where The Full Count™ becomes different from simply receiving a list of test results. We turn the assessment into priorities.
Your results are used to develop individualized recommendations that may include:
-
Shoulder mobility
-
Shoulder strength
-
Scapular control
-
Grip and forearm strength
-
Hip mobility
-
Hip strength
-
Core stability
-
Lower-body strength
-
Movement control
-
Arm-care program
-
Recovery strategies
-
Performance Therapy
Your recommendations may be different from another athlete—even if you play the same position.
Because your body is different.
What You Leave With
The goal isn't for you to leave with more information.
​
The goal is for you to leave knowing what to do with that information.
Your Full Count™ assessment can help you understand:
-
What you're doing well
-
Where your physical limitations are
-
Where meaningful asymmetries exist
-
What areas need improvement
-
Which areas should be prioritized
-
How your physical findings may relate to throwing
-
What your next steps should be
Know Your Body.
Own Your Performance.
The Full Count™ Is For More Than Pitchers
The Full Count™ can be appropriate for:
-
Baseball pitchers
-
Baseball position players
-
Catchers
-
Softball pitchers
-
Softball position players
-
Youth throwers
-
High school athletes
-
Travel athletes
-
Collegiate athletes
-
Competitive athletes
-
Athletes preparing for a new season
-
Athletes returning from injury
-
Athletes looking to improve performance
Pitchers
We place additional emphasis on throwing mechanics, sequencing, workload, arm strength, mobility, and the demands of the pitching delivery.
Position Players
Assessment priorities can be adjusted based on throwing volume, position, defensive demands, and overall athletic goals.
Catchers
The assessment can help identify physical limitations related to repeated throwing, squatting, hip mobility, shoulder function, and lower-body demands.
Softball Athletes
Softball pitchers and position players have different movement and throwing demands than baseball athletes. The assessment can be individualized accordingly.
When Should You Get The Full Count™?
Off-Season
Use objective findings to determine what should be improved before the next season.
In-Season
Monitor physical changes, address emerging limitations, and help maintain your arm-care program.
Post-Injury
After medical clearance, objective testing can help identify remaining physical limitations before progressing back toward full performance.
Before Moving to the Next Level
Moving from youth to high school, high school to college, or recreational to competitive baseball can dramatically increase physical demands.
Knowing your current strengths and weaknesses gives you a starting point.
Your Assessment. Your Blueprint.
The Full Count™ is designed to answer a simple question:
What does YOUR body need to throw, compete, and perform at your best?
Not someone else's program.
Not a generic arm-care routine.
Not a one-size-fits-all checklist.
Your assessment.
Your priorities.
Your plan.
​
Your Personalized Arm Care Program
Your Full Count™ assessment identifies the areas your athlete needs to work on. We then build an individualized arm-care program based on their mobility, strength, stability, movement patterns, throwing demands, and goals.
In-Season Arm Care
Focus on maintaining strength, mobility, recovery, and throwing capacity while managing the demands of competition.
Off-Season Arm Care
Use the offseason to address mobility restrictions, strength deficits, movement patterns, and areas that may have been overlooked during the season—building a stronger foundation for the next year.
​
The Athletic Edge Difference
At Athletic Edge and Wellness, we believe arm care program should extend beyond the arm.
Our approach combines:
Physical Therapy + Sports Performance + Movement Assessment + Arm Care + Throwing Analysis
This allows us to connect the physical side of the athlete with the performance side of the athlete.
We look at the entire kinetic chain.
We measure what we can.
We identify modifiable limitations.
We prioritize what matters most.
And we build a plan around the athlete.
Ready to Find Your Weak Links?
Don't wait until your arm hurts to start paying attention to it.
Don't wait until the season starts to discover what you should have been working on all winter.
Don't rely on a generic arm-care program to tell you what your body needs.
Start with an assessment.
Schedule The Full Count™ at Athletic Edge and Wellness
Serving baseball and softball athletes in Algonquin, Huntley, Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, Cary, Barrington, Elgin, Dundee, Carpentersville, Hampshire, McHenry County, and Northwest Chicagoland.
224.505.EDGE (3343)
Athletic Edge and Wellness
1213 S. Main Street
Algonquin, IL 60102
The Full Count™
Know Your Body. Own Your Performance.
Contact Athletic Edge & Wellness Physical Therapy for pain relief and wellness
Set up an Appointment Today!