On A-Rod’s new workout program with Dr. Clark

March 4, 2012 by Mike Axisa 14 Comments

Kobe Bryant urged Alex Rodriguez to undergo an experimental procedure on his knee a few months ago, and now another NBA star is giving him training advice. Joel Sherman wrote about A-Rod‘s relationship with Dr. Mike Clark, who started working together after Grant Hill put the two in touch.

Clark, who is CEO of the National Academy of Sports Medicine and formerly the Phoenix Suns’ physical trainer, has a system of treating the body globally rather than focusing on specific parts. With Alex, his workouts have focused on his right big toe, left ankle, right knee, and right hip, which were causing imbalances in his swing and have led to injuries elsewhere in his body. Think of it like a pitcher with a leg issue who puts more stress on his arm. A-Rod is working with a member of Clark’s staff daily this spring after first adjusting his workouts earlier in the offseason. It’s a pretty interesting read, so check it out. It gets RAB’s highest level of recommendation.

RetroRob

The one thing that is quite admirable about A-Rod is his commmittment to conditioning. He will push himself to the limit, sometimes doing, cough, cough, questionable things, but he is always in top shape and runs out every ball. Sadly, this is not the case for many players.
tyrone sharpton

highest level of recommendation? dayum shawty time to read. great article y sherman. i usually ate that dudes articles
- tyrone sharpton
  
  *by and *h8
Thud

Do this Rodriguez guy have any chance of making the team out of spring training?

He seems to have good size, and he hit a home run today. I know it was wind-aided, but he seems to have some pop in his bat.

Still, will his age be too big of an issue?
- Mykey
  
  His biggest problem will be the players above him. I just can’t see him starting over Eric Chavez at 3rd or Raul Ibanez at DH.
OldYanksFan

This makes sense.
My chiropractor told me that when one part of the body is out of alignment, other parts of the body ‘re-adjust’ to compensate. It’s the body’s amazing ability to deal with injury and stress.

So if your left foot is injured, other parts of the body re-adjust to try and put less pressure/stress on the injured foot. So it does make sense that if the body sensed that ARod’s hip was still weak, it would take stress off the hip by adjusting to take the stress in other body locations.

Seems to be working so far… yes?
kiki

sherman the one writer who loves arod more than axisa
- Dino Velvet
  
  Then there are those who hate ARod more than Hitler (cough peteabe cough).
  - Havok9120
    
    Which makes those of us who like him overcompesate in return.
Fin

I knew it was the big toe! Its the captain after all. Good article.
Preston

The Phoenix Suns have had the best training staff of any sports team for a long time. They have done a great job keeping oft injured players on the floor. Steve Nash’s has Spondylolisthesis, a degenerative back problem. Yet he has never missed significant time. As mentioned in the article Grant Hill has saved his career in Phoenix, after missing 292 games in six seasons (more than half his games), he has missed only one game in the last four seasons his age 35-39 years. Shaquille Oneal also attributed his healthy 2008-09 season to the Suns training staff.
If A-Rod can have the same level of health that Hill has enjoyed in his late 30’s it would make his contract a lot more palatable over the next six seasons.
Jamey

I’ll temper my hope until I see a healthy & productive A-Rod for the duration of the season. I think this is the 3rd straight year where some new workout was supposed to the cure for what ails him.
Risean

This is good news. God I hope he stays heathy
David Ortiz’s Dealer

I with RetroRob’s comments about ARod’s committment and questionable methods, there is much more science to be used now vs 20 years ago I do think the days of 40 year old guys hitting 40+HR are over, but I think that a guy with his skill level could be productive at that age.