What is an Arm Care Program, and How Should it be Implemented for Pitchers?
by Jamiel Colón, Jeffrey Hartman, PhD, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, and Jonathan Ahearn, DPT, PT, OCS, CSCS
NSCA Coach
February 2026
Vol 13, Issue 1
This article examines the essential elements of an effective arm care program and how strength and conditioning coaches can apply evidence based methods for athletes.
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This article originally appeared in NSCA Coach, a quarterly publication for NSCA Members that provides valuable takeaways for every level of strength and conditioning coach. You can find scientifically based articles specific to a wide variety of your athletes’ needs with Nutrition, Programming, and Youth columns. Read more articles from NSCA Coach »
REFERENCES
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- Chen, B, Liu, L, Bin Chen, L, Cao, X, Han, P, Wang, C, and Qi, Q. Concurrent validity and reliability of a handheld dynamometer in measuring isometric shoulder rotational strength. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation 30(6): 1-4, 2020.
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- DriveLine Baseball. Intro to arm care and training for youth athletes. 2016. Retrieved 2025 from https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Driveline-Youth-Arm-Care-Program.pdf?form=MG0AV3.
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- Gauthier, ML, Unverzagt, CA, and Davies, GJ. Evaluation and treatment of baseball pitchers: There’s more to assess than the arm. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy 20(1): 2025.
- Hamano, N, Shitara, H, Tajika, T, Ichinose, T, Sasaki, T, Kamiyama, M, et al. Relationship between tightness of the hip joint and shoulder/elbow injury in high school baseball pitchers: a prospective study. Scientific Reports 10(1): 19979, 2020.
- Hattori, H, Akasaka, K, Otsudo, T, Hall, T, Amemiya, K, and Mori, Y. The effect of repetitive baseball pitching on medial elbow joint space gapping associated with 2 elbow valgus stressors in high school baseball players. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery 27(4): 592-598, 2018.
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- Matsel, KA, Burns, M, Newbold, J, Sherwood, S, and Plisky, PJ. The reliability and validity of the ArmCare strength and range of motion sensor and mobile application in baseball players. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy 20(9): 1345-1354, 2025.
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- Mehta, S, Tang, S, Rajapakse, C, Juzwak, S, and Dowling, B. Chronic workload, subjective arm health, and throwing injury in high school baseball players: 3-year retrospective pilot study. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach 14(1): 119-126, 2021.
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- Reinold, MM, and Gill, TJ. Current concepts in the evaluation and treatment of the shoulder in overhead-throwing athletes, part 1: Physical characteristics and clinical examination. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach 2(1): 39-50, 2009.
- Reinold, MM, Gill, TJ, Wilk, KE, and Andrews, JR. Current concepts in the evaluation and treatment of the shoulder in overhead throwing athletes, part 2: Injury prevention and treatment. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach 2(2): 101-115, 2010.
- Shitara, H, Yamamoto, A, Shimoyama, D, Ichinose, T, Sasaki, T, Hamano, N, et al. Shoulder stretching intervention reduces the incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries in high school baseball players: A time-to-event analysis. Scientific Reports 7(1): 2017.
- Tommy John surgery: Details and recovery. 2023. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 2025 from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/25117-tommy-john-surgery.
- Wilk, KE, Meister, K, and Andrews, JR. Current concepts in the rehabilitation of the overhead throwing athlete. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 30(1): 136-151, 2002.
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Recovery Athletic Performance Strength Training Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness Injury Prevention Baseball Throwing-Related Injuries Program Design
Recovery Athletic Performance Strength Training Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness Injury Prevention Baseball Throwing-Related Injuries Program Design
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