A high school pitcher faces a torn hamstring; rushing back could mean two years out versus four months.
The episode begins with host Rex thanking sponsors and announcing the podcast has reached 20 monthly supporters. He then addresses a listener's question about mallet finger, explaining that function can be 100% even if the finger doesn't look perfectly straight. The interview with Benny Wu starts, covering his background. Benny chose physical therapy after discovering NBA physical therapists in high school. He interned with the Wei Chuan Dragons' farm team despite having no prior interest in baseball. Benny describes his first injury case there, a hamstring strain. He later worked at a sports event where he saw two Achilles tendon ruptures. Benny then moved to Gu Bao High School, a top baseball program producing many national team players. He discusses the challenges of high school athletes, who often play through injuries due to tight schedules and pressure to turn pro. Benny explains using sports science tools like Rapsodo and force plates. A key dilemma arises: balancing player health with competitive needs, especially for seniors seeking contracts. Benny shares his communication strategies with coaches and players, emphasizing educating athletes about their bodies. He reveals plans to go to Australia on a working holiday visa, possibly to practice physical therapy there. Benny advises aspiring sports therapists to gain hands-on experience and play the sport themselves. The episode concludes with reflections on pursuing dreams at any age.
