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Pitchers Elbow and Biomechanics

Anytime there is consistent throbbing, numbing, tingling, pain, etc...you have to consider if the mechanics of a pitcher's arm circle are flawed or is it due to a certain pitch that the pitcher is throwing. If the arm circle and hand positioning through the circle are not BIOMECHANICALLY CORRECT then over time there will be problems whether in the shoulder, elbow, and possibly wrist. Common misdiagnosis these days with softball pitchers if they have elbow problems is....Tendonitis! That is used very routinely now when pitchers have elbow problems. One of the best MLB elbow surgeons for many years has been researching and operating on elite level softball players and more and more amateurs for the last few years. What he is found is that certain pitches do damage to the ligaments surrounding the elbow. Depending the pitch, depends on which ligament(s). Most players are commonly misdiagnosed with tendonitis and have continual problems. This Dr., Dr. Kremchek, refers to it in the general "Pitchers Elbow" or at times pinpoint it more as "Rise Ball Elbow" or "Screw Ball Elbow". Throwing a screwball constantly jerks and stretches one of the major ligaments in the elbow. Jenny Finch had surgery a couple years a go due to "Screw Ball Elbow". As far as rise ball, any player throwing a 12-6 spin rise ball is taking a chance of damaging their elbow as well. To properly throw a 12-6 rise ball when a pitchers arm is at the bottom half of the arm circle, the inward side of the pitchers arm is pointed at the plate and the bicep is facing off to the side so as the hand can try to create a 12-6 spin to make the ball rise. In this position at the bottom half of the arm circle it puts pressure on the joint versus the muscles around the elbow. Anytime you're putting more pressure on the joint instead of the muscles around it there is a high risk/chance of causing damage to the elbow in this case. This being the case, a 12-6 rise ball mechanics are not "biomechanically" good for the elbow. Those of you with any knowledge or experience with kinesiology should understand this and some of it being common sense as well. I'm sure you're thinking, how can a pitcher be effective with out a rise ball or screw ball....answer being there is another way to throw a rise ball, commonly known as "power rise". The "power rise" if thrown correctly keeps the pressure off the elbow and keeps it on the muscle. And anytime you keep the pressure on the muscle versus the joint you're going to be more athletic and more powerful. Screw ball wise, there is another pitch that replaces it called a "cut fastball". The "cutter" creates the same movement, but does not jerk and stretch on the ligaments like the "screw". Questions, comments, let me know.