Anxiety, progressive muscle relaxation training, and recuperation of a baseball pitcher's arm

Overhand baseball pitching is damaging to the arm. Furthermore, participation in sports has been associated with increases in anxiety. Anxiety has been related to decreased healing, higher pain, and higher recuperation rates. Therefore, baseball pitchers are at risk for injury because of the physiological stress related to pitching and the psychological stress related to sport performance anxiety.;Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is an alternative health technique that has been useful in decreasing both pain and anxiety. In this case study, PMR was utilized daily for 8 weeks by a 42-year-old, former minor league baseball pitcher to evaluate the potential effectiveness for baseball pitches by assessing measurements of pitching pain with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, Hand (DASH) and sport-related anxiety with the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT). Results indicate significance for decreases in both anxiety ( p < .01) and pain (p < .01). This decrease in pain also occurred despite having higher pitch counts (85, 90) in later weeks than his first pitching performance (76). Time accounted for 70% of the changes in anxiety and pain scores. An interview was conducted poststudy, and the participant heavily endorsed PMR for relieving pain related to pitching. In conclusion, PMR may be a beneficial therapeutic tool for decreasing pain and anxiety among baseball pitchers.