Konin ©2009
Preventing Injuries in Throwers with the Core and Hips
Jeff G. Konin, PhD, ATC, PT
Associate Professor & Vice Chair
Department of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
Executive Director
The Sports Medicine & Athletic Related Trauma (SMART) Institute
Konin ©2009
Serape
 Draped loosely and crosses over the
front of the body in an “x” shape
 The concept has been translated to
muscle function reinforcing the
muscles of the core as a connector
 The serape muscles are considered
to include:
 the rhomboids, serratus anterior,
external obliques and internal obliques
Logan, G., & McKinney, W. 1970. The serape effect. In Anatomic
Kinesiology (2nd Ed., pp. 154-561). New York: William C. Brown, Co.
a colorful garment
worn by the
people of Mexico
Konin ©2009
Serape Effect
In ballistic actions such as throwing and
kicking, the serape muscles add to the
summation of internal forces. They also
transfer internal force from a large body
segment, the trunk, to relatively smaller
body parts, the limbs
Hip to shoulder relationship
Konin ©2009
Logan, G., & McKinney, W. 1970. The serape effect. In
Anatomic Kinesiology (2nd Ed., pp. 154-561). New
York: William C. Brown, Co
Konin ©2009
Serape Effect
Konin et al ATT 2003
Deficits in measurable active
& passive hip extension,
active hip flexion with pain
(Kouvalchouk Rev Chir Orthop 1998)
Konin ©2009
Konin ©2009
Preventing Injuries in Throwers with the Core and Hips
LE Flexibility (Used as part of an overall warm-up)
Ipsilateral hip extension
Hip IR/ER (Lack of IR will force truck to open early and increase stress on medial
Elbow and /or anterior shoulder)
Core Training for Throwers
Abdominal Bracing /Drawing in maneuver
Prone Cobra Progression
LE Balance/Proprioception*
Standing Pulls - ant/post/lat pull (Weak gluts cause the hip to drop leading to drop of shoulder)
LE Functional Strength Training**
Wind-Up/Lunge with twist
Lunge with twist
Step-Ups with twist
*Functional exercise that is multiplanar, incorporates the lumbo-pelvic-hip core
complex and can be challenged with proprioceptive input from unstable surfaces,
eyes closed, etc
** Lunge strength will help deceleration injuries to the shoulder
Konin ©2009
Preventing Injuries in Throwers with the Core and Hips
LE Flexibility (Used as part of an overall warm-up)
Ipsilateral hip extension
Hip IR/ER (Lack of IR will force truck to open early and increase stress on medial
Elbow and /or anterior shoulder)
Konin ©2009
Preventing Injuries in Throwers with the Core and Hips
Core Training for Throwers
Abdominal Bracing /Drawing in maneuver
Prone Cobra Progression
Konin ©2009
Preventing Injuries in Throwers with the Core and Hips
LE Balance/Proprioception*
Standing Pulls - ant/post/lat pull (Weak gluts cause the hip to drop leading to drop of
shoulder)
*Functional exercise that is multiplanar, incorporates the lumbo-pelvic-hip core
complex and can be challenged with proprioceptive input from unstable
surfaces, eyes closed, etc
Konin ©2009
Preventing Injuries in Throwers with the Core and Hips
LE Functional Strength Training**
Wind-Up/Lunge with twist
Lunge with twist
Step-Ups with twist
** Lunge strength will help deceleration injuries to the shoulder
Konin ©2009
Summary
An example of a program that can
be implemented to maximize
performance and reduce injury