MATT PEARSON OVERCOMES ARM INJURY TO RETURN TO THE MOUND

After many years of playing successful baseball, the last thing a high school pitcher wants to feel is arm pain.  Unlike a broken bone or a bruise, arm pain can’t be seen, it can only be felt.  Charlotte Christian baseball player Matt Pearson learned first hand what arm pain felt like last season.

Matt talks about the pain and what it felt like.

“I had some discomfort off and on last year but didn’t think much about it. I took last fall off and was working on my pitching in preparation for the upcoming school season.  In early December I was throwing a bullpen and pitching really well.  But the last couple I threw, I felt pain in my elbow.  It didn’t get any better so we went to the Doctor right after Christmas.  He ordered an MRI and it showed that I had a stress fracture where the UCL connects to the lower arm.  He shut me down for a month.  When I started back throwing again, it seemed to be better.”

After only a few weeks of the spring season, Matt was still feeling pain.

“I pitched three games early in the school season and threw well but my arm didn’t feel great and it was taking a long time for it to recover after an outing.  I finally got to the point where I felt a sharp pain in my elbow when I tried to pitch.  We went back to the Doctor and he shut me down again from pitching and referred me to Alan Tyson.”

Alan Tyson of Architech Sports and Physical Therapy broke down Matt’s mechanics and identified what was putting the stress on his arm.

"Alan "showed me” the stress by putting me on the table and manipulating my arm and shoulder to produce the same effect.  He made a small change in my mechanics so that instead of taking the ball out of my glove with my palm and elbow up, I now take the ball out more naturally with the side of my hand leading. This allows me to be on top of the ball at the start.  That simple change alleviated the action causing the stress in my elbow.  I then worked hard on core strengthening exercises with Alan."

"I’ve always been a hard thrower.  I experienced a noticeable loss of velocity due to the pain.  With Alan’s help, I’m able to pitch pain free again and am throwing harder than I was before.  I feel really blessed that my injury wasn’t more serious than it was."

Asked what he learned from the arm injury experience;

"Now I know what it feels like to have an injury to my arm and I really don’t want to experience it again. It made me realize how weak my core was and how much stronger I needed to be. It also motivates me to work harder in the weight room on all areas of my body and has made me a better athlete. I make sure to take care of my arm whenever I get done throwing and make sure I run after I pitch."

Now with a healthy right arm in tow, Matt is working hard to improve as a pitcher.  He is working with Jake Robbins at Carolinas Baseball Center every week.  He also takes hitting lessons with Jeff Schaefer at Carolinas Batting Center.  Up next will be 8-man workouts with Coach Greg Simmons at Charlotte Christian, then a few college camps over the winter.

Matt has set a few goals for the spring season.

"One goal I have for the spring season is to be in the starting pitching rotation for our conference schedule, and to be successful in that role.  Another goal I have is to help Charlotte Christian repeat as state champion."

Throughout the injury rehabilitation Matt maintained his commitment to success in the classroom.  He carries a 4.3 grade point average and is looking forward to college.

The South Charlotte Sports Report salutes Matt Pearson for working hard to overcome a setback to his arm and we wish him the very best of luck this spring and into the future.