RICE PROGRAM

For the Throwing Elbow

Todd Rush was a very hard throwing right handed pitcher from New Albany High School that played for me in the early 90's at IU Southeast.  He closed for us his freshman year and one game he struck out the side (three hitters and three strike outs) against the University of Louisville.  He decided to leave IUS after his freshman year to transfer to IU Bloomington for academic reasons.  He didn't throw much at all the whole year while out of baseball.  He returned to IUS the next year and began playing again.  He did lose some velocity and he developed some elbow problems by the time he was in his Junior Season.  He pitched well but had poor recovery time and he was in pain.  His Mom got a hold of this Rice Program from someone for her "tennis elbow".  She started using it and it helped her elbow a lot and she could continue playing tennis.  Todd thought it might help his elbow and he started using it.  It worked so well that he pitched so well he became the ace of the staff and led the IUS team to a District (Indiana) Championship and it took the eventual national champions beating him in the Region Tournament in Michigan.  We went out and bought some buckets and rice and from that moment on, we used the rice program religiously.  I feel it is the best elbow exercise programs for pitchers.  Here it is.

Rice Program

The following exercises are designed to increase muscle strength in your forearm, wrist and hand.  The only equipment you need is a two gallon bucket filled with three-fourths of the way with uncooked rice.  Your elbow should remain fixed and the movement should be only in your wrist and hand.    Initially, your fingers should not penetrate very deep into the rice but as your strength and endurance improve, you will be able to perform the exercises with your fingers deeper in the rice.  Begin with two sets of as a many repetitions of each exercise as you can do before you reach fatigue in your forearm.  Gradually work up to two sets of 30-35 repetitions and rest 30-60 seconds between sets.

1.  Scratch near the surface of the rice.

2.  Pull with the fourth and fifth fingers.

3.  Wrist circles to the left and right.

4.  Wrist and fingers extensions.  Push the rice out of the way with the back of your fingers.

5.  Move wrist in a side to side direction.  You may need to limit the range of movement.

6.  Thumb circles to the left and right.

7.  Reach and grab toward the bottom of the bucket.

You are going to think, at first, that this program isn't going to help, but stay with it.  It does help.

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