Matthew Roland '16 Recruiting Profile

Every pitch hurt a little bit more, but I had to keep throwing. I couldn’t let my team down. I just had to stay tough. After all, I was eleven years old and not a little kid anymore.

My dad was watching and knew that something was wrong. He had seen enough. He reluctantly asked the coach to take me out of the game. I was furious when I got benched, even though my shoulder kept throbbing painfully.

This scene was repeated many times over the next few years until finally the inevitable happened. I injured my throwing arm shoulder at age 14. My doctor told me it was because I was bigger and stronger than other kids my age, and I was putting stress on my shoulder that my joints weren’t ready for.

I was diagnosed with scapular dyskinesis. The muscles around my shoulder blades were not functioning properly, because my shoulder blades were protracted with anterior tilt. I went to physical therapy and was told that if I ever wanted to be a pitcher I had to address postural problems to correct my injury. Even after my physical therapy sessions were complete I had to continue practicing at home over the next several years.

I have made great strides since then, and I no longer experience pain and discomfort during and after pitching. After seeing firsthand how beneficial physical therapy can be, I want to study sports medicine in college and go on to be a physical therapist.