According to Bodybuilding.com, resistance bands provide resistance through every part of an exercise, which leads to better range of motion and a more complete workout. For baseball pitchers, resistance band training can improve flexibility and strength and, more importantly, avoid the type of injuries that could occur due to lifting heavy weights.
Simulate Mechanics
You can attach resistance bands to a fence and use them to simulate a pitcher's mechanics. This means that pitchers can work on their release point and weight transfer, while simultaneously resistance-training the muscles. This overloads muscles and helps train the ones that can be ignored with conventional strength training. Perform throwing simulation after workouts as a strength exercise and to exhaust the muscles. Better Body Journal notes that resistance bands enable you to replicate the movements in your sport with tension.
Rotator Cuff Training
The rotator cuff is not directly trained with conventional weight training, according to the Better Body Journal. You can do some rotator cuff exercises with weights, but resistance bands offer more safety and a better range of motion for training. Better Body Journal notes that the rotator cuff is under extreme strain while pitching a baseball, but resistance bands can help increase strength and prevent common rotator cuff injuries. You can train the rotator cuff with raises that involve bringing your arms up from a variety of positions to eye level. In addition, you can perform specific rotator cuff rotation exercises by attaching the band to a fence or other sturdy object.
Flexibility
Baseball pitchers must be flexible to prevent injury and to throw the ball. A pitcher's motion is not easy, and his arms and upper body cannot be trained like a bodybuilder's. Strength training can help increase flexibility, and according to Bodybuilding.com, this is magnified because the bands work through the full range of motion that free weights do not.
Rehab, Recovery and Prevention
Resistance bands can help rehabilitate injuries and prevent new ones. The Better Body Journal calls resistance bands low-impact like walking and swimming because there is no impact on the joints and bones. This means that after you pitch or if you are injured you can still use resistance bands to work out safely. The Better Body Journal notes that resistance bands stimulate blood flow to training areas and improve recovery time. This is important because after pitching, pitchers can be sore and tight, and resistance bands can help shorten the recovery phase.
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