Keep Your Athlete on the Field All Season Long
Baseball-specific prehab, performance & rehabilitation in La Costa. Objective VALD force plate testing, pitcher-focused injury prevention, and individualized seasonal programs. Longevity Physical Therapy, La Costa.
The 60-Minute Screening Includes
About Joey Becher, DPT
Joey Becher is a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Longevity Physical Therapy and a former Division II college pitcher at Point Loma Nazarene University.
He specializes in pitcher-specific injury prevention, arm care, and performance — using objective VALD testing and individualized seasonal programming to keep baseball athletes on the field.
Currently pursuing his Fellowship in Applied Functional Science (FAFS).
"I've had Tommy John surgery, a SLAP tear, and a hip labral repair — all as a competitive pitcher. I know what it feels like to lose a season, to sit in the trainer's room wondering what went wrong, and to fight your way back to the mound. That experience is why I built this program. I don't just understand these injuries clinically. I've lived them."
— Joey Becher
Objective Testing with VALD
What It Is & Why It Matters
Most programs rely on observation alone. VALD technology gives us precise, repeatable data on how your athlete's body is actually performing — and where it is vulnerable.
We use the same testing platform used by professional organizations and elite collegiate programs. Every test, every session, is tracked so changes don't go unnoticed.
| Test | What We Measure | Key Metric | Why It Matters for Pitchers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athletic Shoulder Test (ASH) | Isometric shoulder girdle force in I, Y & T positions (prone) | Peak Force & RFD (rate of force development in first 100ms) | Identifies how quickly the shoulder can stabilize under load — a direct window into arm care readiness, fatigue, and return-to-throw status. RFD drops before pain appears. |
| Shoulder ER/IR Strength | External and internal rotation force output, measured bilaterally | ER:IR ratio & bilateral symmetry | Imbalances in the ER:IR ratio are one of the strongest predictors of shoulder and elbow injury in overhead athletes. We track both sides to catch drift before it becomes a problem. |
| Countermovement Jump (CMJ) | Bilateral explosive jumping — measures the full stretch-shortening cycle | Jump height, RFD, peak power, limb symmetry index | Reflects total lower body explosiveness and neuromuscular readiness. Power output here is directly linked to throwing velocity. Symmetry drops signal fatigue or compensation. |
| Single Leg Jump | Unilateral explosive capacity — each leg tested independently | Jump height, limb symmetry index, landing force | Exposes side-to-side imbalances the bilateral CMJ can hide. Drive leg vs. landing leg asymmetry in pitchers is a key upstream risk factor for arm overload. |
| Reactive Strength Index (RSI) | Ratio of jump height to ground contact time — how explosively an athlete rebounds | RSI score & contact time | RSI reflects the lead leg's ability to absorb force and redirect it — the same deceleration demand at front foot strike in the pitching motion. Low RSI = higher arm stress. |
| Grip Strength | Bilateral hand and forearm force output via dynamometry | Peak force & bilateral symmetry | Grip strength correlates with overall upper extremity health and forearm load tolerance. Asymmetry or in-season drops can signal fatigue or early elbow stress before symptoms develop. |
How We Use It Across the Season
Pre-Season — Establishing the Baseline
Full test battery sets your athlete's personal benchmark. We use this to identify risk factors, set targets, and confirm readiness before competition begins.
In-Season — Tracking Stress & Managing Load
Regular re-testing tracks how your athlete responds to cumulative season demands. Force drops, symmetry shifts, and Rate of force development (RFD) changes are caught in the numbers before they show up as symptoms.
Off-Season — Recovery & Development
Post-season testing shows exactly what the season took out of your athlete. Off-season programming is built from that data to develop the strength and durability that protects them next season.
Self-pay clients have access to a variety of VALD Testing packages. Insurance-based patients receive testing at the Performance assessment; additional sessions available as a $50 Self-pay add-on.
Services Offered
Assessment
Treatment & Programming
Areas & Injuries Treated
Areas Treated
Injuries Treated
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
The baseball-specific evaluation and self-pay treatment track are cash-based (credit/debit accepted). Insurance-based care is available for qualifying patients — contact us to discuss your options.
Yes. We work with players of all ages and levels, from youth and travel ball to high school, college, and professional. Programming and communication are tailored appropriately for each athlete and their family.
Wear athletic clothing you can move freely in. If you have any prior imaging (MRI, X-ray), bring those if available. Come ready to talk through your throwing history, recent workload, and any symptoms you've been managing.
Both. While our deepest expertise is with pitchers, we regularly work with catchers, infielders, and outfielders on shoulder health, lower-body power, and sport-specific movement quality.
Absolutely. In-season care is a specialty. We build plans that account for your practice and game schedule so we're supporting your performance — not pulling you away from it.
Ready to get started?
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Our scheduler will call and confirm based on available dates and times based on your request.
