My Story With the ScapStick: From Injury to Invention

My relationship with arm pain began earlier than it should have. As far back as sixth grade, I remember walking off the baseball field with an arm that felt unusable, struggling even to lift my glove. At the time, I assumed this was simply part of playing a demanding sport. Everyone’s arm hurt sometimes. But as the years went on, the pain did not fade. It followed me through middle school and into high school, becoming a constant presence rather than a temporary setback.

By the time I reached high school, the pain had become more specific and more frustrating. I dealt with chronic discomfort on the outside of my elbow, later diagnosed as tennis elbow, along with deep tightness and restriction in my shoulder. Like most athletes searching for shoulder pain relief, I tried everything that was supposed to work. I relied on Advil, shut down throwing when things flared up, committed to band routines, and followed rest protocols. Each solution helped briefly, but none addressed the underlying issue. The pain always returned.

When I eventually reached college baseball at Wesleyan University, the stakes became higher. As a catcher, my arm was not measured in innings pitched but in volume. Throw after throw, practice after practice, my ability to recover mattered more than ever. Baseball arm care stopped being optional and became essential. I needed a way to maintain my shoulder rather than constantly reacting to pain.

Shoulder Pain in Baseball Players and Throwing Athletes

It was during this period that I began working closely with a physical therapist who reframed the problem entirely. Instead of treating my elbow as the source of the issue, he focused on the shoulder as a system. In particular, he emphasized the role of the subscapularis and latissimus dorsi in throwing mechanics.

For throwing athletes, these muscles are critical for scapular stability, proper shoulder rotation, and efficient force transfer through the arm. When they become tight or restricted, stress is pushed elsewhere, often showing up as elbow pain from throwing or persistent baseball shoulder pain. For the first time, my injury history made sense. The elbow pain was not random. My shoulder simply was not moving the way it needed to.

Once I began addressing these areas consistently, the changes were noticeable. My pain decreased, my shoulder felt freer, and I gained measurable improvements in external rotation. That improvement mattered. As a catcher, my arm felt more durable over time instead of constantly on edge. I was no longer just trying to get through practices. I was actually improving shoulder function.

Why Traditional Shoulder Recovery Tools Fall Short

Understanding the problem was only part of the solution. The real challenge was figuring out how to address it safely and consistently.

In physical therapy sessions, we relied on aggressive manual work to reach deep shoulder muscles. Sometimes this involved improvised tools like PVC pipes. While these methods helped temporarily, they were painful, difficult to do alone, and risky if done incorrectly. Outside of appointments, there was no reliable way to maintain progress.

I started to notice a larger issue. There were countless recovery tools available for athletes, but very few designed specifically as a shoulder mobility tool for throwing athletes. Foam rollers worked well for legs. Massage balls helped hips and calves. But when it came to rotator cuff recovery, shoulder impingement relief, and deep shoulder work, most tools fell short. Despite how common shoulder issues are in baseball, the recovery options did not match the demands of the sport.

That gap is what led to the creation of the ScapStick.

From Recovery Problem to Shoulder Mobility Tool

In 2025, at nineteen years old, I built the first ScapStick prototype. The goal was simple. I wanted to create a shoulder recovery tool that allowed athletes to safely access the subscapularis, lats, and posterior shoulder without relying on another person or risking injury.

The ScapStick was designed to fit naturally into throwing athlete recovery routines. It allows for controlled subscapularis release, supports scapular stability, and helps athletes maintain shoulder mobility over time. I started using it myself, then shared it with teammates. Their response confirmed what I suspected. This was not just my problem. Many athletes were dealing with the same tightness, the same restrictions, and the same cycle of pain followed by temporary fixes.

The ScapStick exists because shoulder pain should not be an inevitable part of being an athlete. It exists because overhead athlete recovery should focus on prevention, not just treatment. For me, it represents the shift from enduring injury to understanding it, and from frustration to invention.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes elbow pain in throwing athletes?
Elbow pain from throwing is often linked to limited shoulder mobility or poor scapular stability. When the shoulder cannot rotate or stabilize properly, excess stress is transferred to the elbow over time.

How do you release the subscapularis safely?
The subscapularis is a deep shoulder muscle that requires controlled pressure and proper positioning. Safe release typically involves a tool designed specifically for shoulder anatomy rather than improvised or overly aggressive methods.

What is the best shoulder recovery tool for baseball players?
The most effective shoulder recovery tools are those that improve shoulder mobility, support scapular stability, and fit into regular throwing routines. Tools built specifically for throwing athletes tend to be more effective than general recovery equipment.