How One Chiropractor’s Kinetic Approach Brought an Athlete Back to Full Velocity

At 15 years old and with a 96 MPH fastball, every college and pro scout had their eyes on local high school baseball pitcher, Jake S. But this rising star was suddenly sidelined, battling pain with every throw. His hero and rescuer? A pioneer chiropractor with the full suite of CuraMedix’s Shockwave and EMTT devices, powered by STORZ Medical. 

The Problem: A Misleading Diagnosis

At the start of his season, Jake was benched and faced the possibility of sitting out the entire year after being misdiagnosed with costochondritis – inflammation where the ribs meet the sternum.

While his symptoms were certainly painful, this diagnosis, and the recommended treatment of anti-inflammatories and a lifetime of physical therapy, failed to address the root cause. The massive velocity of his fast ball was catching up to him, forcing him to compensate. His pitching motion was becoming overly reliant on his upper body, due to the fact that the foundational mechanics (his hips and thoracic spine) weren't doing their job.

The real pathology? Reduced hip mobility led to limited external shoulder rotation, and without the ability to use his entire body to create the force he needed, he began to overdevelop his latissimus and subscapular muscles. This stress migrated up the kinetic chain, manifesting as rib and back pain and eventually leading to fibrotic restrictions in his thoracic region. 

The Solution: Treating the Athlete, Not the Symptom

Jake’s mother sought the advice of Dr. Brian Nathanson, DC, of Norwalk, CT, who performed a complete evaluation focusing on the kinetic chain - the concept that joints and body segments affect one another during movement.

Dr. Nathanson’s complete evaluation revealed:

• Fibrotic and hypertrophic hips: Reduced internal/external rotation was putting undue stress on his back and ribs.
• Restricted movement: His range of motion in his rib cage, shoulder, and hips was limited.

The treatment protocol centered on restoring mobility and function to his hips and thoracic spine using a multi-device approach to include:

• Focused Shockwave (ESWT),
• Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Technology Therapy (EMTT)
• Extracorporeal Pulse Activated Technology (EPAT), also known as Radial Pressure Wave (RPW), from CuraMedix, powered by STORZ Medical.

Dr. Nathanson’s approach was intense: two sessions of Radial Pressure Wave and Focused Shockwave per week for three weeks, designed to restore full, pain-free motion, followed by EMTT to reduce inflammation. Pulse count and device settings varied depending on the pathology being treated and patient tolerance. 

Step 1: "Digging Out the Hip"

The initial focus on the hips was intense and comprehensive, embodying Dr. Nathanson’s philosophy to "treat the person, not the injury." 

• This involved treating the Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL), quadriceps, and adductors with RPW, and using ESWT to aggressively trace and mobilize the entire hip complex, from the greater trochanter and iliac crest to deep into the psoas muscle and inside the entire hip capsule.
• This comprehensive treatment was applied to both hips, the left more than the right, due to the asymmetrical demands of being a right-handed pitcher, to restore a full range of motion.

Step 2: Addressing the Knee/Lower Leg

The treatment protocol included deep work on the "four corners of the knee" and the muscles below it. 

• Dr. Nathanson used EPAT and ESWT to treat the hamstrings down to the hamstrings-gastrocnemius junctions. He would then address the deep posterior structures of the knee and eventually treat anteriorly.
• The result? Reduced hypertrophy, joint and muscular restriction in the pelvis and legs, which ultimately "took the load off his back.”

Step 3: Addressing the Thoracic Cavity/Rib Cage

Once the foundation was mobile, treatment shifted to the thoracic spine, intercostal tissues, and ribs using both EPAT and ESWT, creating free motion of the region. 

• On thinner tissue, Radial Pressure Wave was used with the F15 applicator tip. 
• On thicker, more muscular tissue, Focused Shockwave was used with the #2 standoff.

Step 4: Liberating the Shoulder

Finally, ESWT was performed in the deep axilla and subscapular regions to release restrictions limiting his shoulder's external rotation. This allowed his subscapularis and latissimus muscles to operate freely without any overcompensation.

The Result: From Bench to Champion

In three weeks, Jake made a complete turnaround. His hip mobility was restored - so much that Dr. Nathanson said he had "hips like Elvis." He regained the ability to pivot better on the mound, taking the load off his upper body and eliminating his pain.

The ultimate test came when Jake took the mound in a high-stakes international championship game, subsequently delivering three scoreless innings in a gold-medal victory, made possible by Dr. Nathanson’s expertise and his dynamic, multi-device approach. 

Today, Jake is back on the mound, playing for both his local high school and his travel team, pitching in full health and with a bright future ahead - one closely followed by both college and MLB scouts.

Important to Note: The treatments and use of EPAT®, ESWT, and EMTT® described in this article reflect the personal clinical experience of the practitioner and are not intended as claims of efficacy.