Stride Pattern of the Lower Extremities Among Stride Types in Baseball Pitching.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Chen SW
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8366559 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Background:Ball velocity, accuracy and game statistics represent three methods used to measure pitching performance. However, individual determinants of pitching performance are more elusive. Objectives:The aims of this study were to classify the performance factors associated with baseball pitchers, to identify the methods used to quantify their abilities through all features of the game and to document relationships between performance factors and indicators. Design:Scoping review. Data sources:Electronic searches of MEDLINE, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, SportDiscus, PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane and of grey literature were undertaken from inception to January 2019. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies:Cross-sectional studies that investigated the relationship between performance indicators and individual performance factors in healthy baseball pitchers were selected. Results:Thirty-four cross-sectional studies investigating individual potential factors of pitching performance met the inclusion criteria. The primary performance factors investigated were kinematic, kinetic, timing outcomes, personal characteristics, physical tests and range of motion. Shoulder horizontal adduction (SHA), upper torso forward flexion, maximal shoulder external rotation, upper torso rotation angle, upper torso lateral flexion, lead knee flexion (LKF) and forward trunk tilt (FTT) were identified as key kinematic features associated with increased ball velocity. Shoulder proximal force and peak elbow proximal forces were associated with greater ball velocity. Individual performances in jumping tests and body weight (BW) are also associated with pitching performance. Summary/conclusion:Based on studies presenting low and moderate risk of bias, we conclude that BW, age and kinematics, such as FTT, LKF, SHA and lateral trunk tilt, are associated with pitching performance.
| S-EPMC7047480 | biostudies-literature
Project description:CONTEXT:Pitching injuries in youth baseball are increasing in incidence. Poor pitching mechanics in young throwers have not been sufficiently evaluated due to the lack of a basic biomechanical understanding of the "normal" youth pitching motion. OBJECTIVE:To provide a greater understanding of the kinetics and kinematics of the youth baseball pitching motion. DATA SOURCES:PubMed, MEDLINE, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched from database inception through February 2017. STUDY SELECTION:A total of 10 biomechanical studies describing youth pitching mechanics were included. STUDY DESIGN:Systematic review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Level 3. DATA EXTRACTION:Manual extraction and compilation of demographic, methodology, kinetic, and kinematic variables from the included studies were completed. RESULTS:In studies of healthy youth baseball pitchers, progressive external rotation of the shoulder occurs throughout the start of the pitching motion, reaching a maximum of 166° to 178.2°, before internally rotating throughout the remainder of the cycle, reaching a minimum of 13.2° to 17°. Elbow valgus torque reaches the highest level (18 ± 4 N·m) just prior to maximum shoulder external rotation and decreases throughout the remainder of the pitch cycle. Stride length is 66% to 85% of pitcher height. In comparison with a fastball, a curveball demonstrates less elbow varus torque (31.6 ± 15.3 vs 34.8 ± 15.4 N·m). CONCLUSION:Multiple studies show that maximum elbow valgus torque occurs just prior to maximum shoulder external rotation. Forces on the elbow and shoulder are greater for the fastball than the curveball.
| S-EPMC5857730 | biostudies-other
Project description:Estimating external workload in baseball pitchers is important for training and rehabilitation. Since current methods of estimating workload through pitch counts and rest days have only been marginally successful, clubs are looking for more sophisticated methods to quantify the mechanical loads experienced by pitchers. Among these are the use of wearable systems. While wearables offer a promising solution, there remains a lack of standards or guidelines for how best to employ these devices. As a result, sensor location and workload calculation methods vary from system to system. This can influence workload estimates and blur their interpretation and utility when making decisions about training or returning to sport. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which sensor location influences workload estimate. A secondary purpose was to compare estimates using different workload calculations. Acceleration data from three sensor locations-trunk, throwing upper arm, and throwing forearm-were collected from ten collegiate pitchers as they threw a series of pitches during a single bullpen session. The effect of sensor location and pitch type was assessed in relation to four different workload estimates. Sensor location significantly influenced workload estimates. Workload estimates calculated from the forearm sensor were significantly different across pitch types. Whole-body workload measured from a trunk-mounted sensor may not adequately reflect the mechanical loads experienced at throwing arm segments. A sensor on the forearm was the most sensitive to differences in workloads across pitch types, regardless of the calculation method.
| S-EPMC9698011 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Accurately throwing an object to a target position repeatedly is one of the specific human motor skills. The final arrival position of a thrown ball can be determined by its physical state at release. In baseball pitching, reducing the variability of the velocity angle of the ball at release (release angle) is important for reducing the variability of the pitch location. Although previous studies have suggested that hand and finger movements are important for accurate throwing, their relationship with the release angle has not yet been investigated in detail. This study focused on the positional relationship between the ball and fingers, which is considered to be closely related to ball movement as an action point of the force, and examined its relationship with the variability of release angle. To obtain accurate finger positions relative to the ball without impeding movement or sensation, an automatic image recognition technology based on deep learning was employed. This approach revealed a noteworthy correlation between the lower middle finger positions prior to acceleration peaks and the reduced variability in release angle, emphasizing the importance of consistent finger positioning during the pre-release phase. This finger positioning of the pitchers with low variability in the release angle is suggested to be robust against the spatial variability of ball movement.
| S-EPMC10729979 | biostudies-literature
Project description:This study explored the mechanical factors that determine accuracy of a baseball pitching. In particular, we focused on the mechanical parameters at ball release, referred to as release parameters. The aim was to understand which parameter has the most deterministic influence on pitch location by measuring the release parameters during actual pitching and developing a simulation that predicts the pitch location from given release parameters. By comparing the fluctuation of the simulated pitch location when varying each release parameter, it was found that the elevation pitching angle and speed significantly influenced the vertical pitch location, and the azimuth pitching angle significantly influenced the horizontal pitch location. Moreover, a regression model was obtained to predict the pitch location, and it became clear that the significant predictors for the vertical pitch location were the elevation pitching angle, the speed, and spin axis, and those for the horizontal pitch location were the azimuth pitching angle, the spin axis, and horizontal release point. Therefore, it was suggested that the parameter most affecting pitch location weas pitching angle. On the other hand, multiple regression analyses revealed that the relation between release parameters varied between pitchers. The result is expected to contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms underlying accurate ball control skill in baseball pitching.
| S-EPMC7739723 | biostudies-literature
Project description:In baseball pitchers the elbow is exposed to high and repetitive loads (i.e. external valgus torque), caused by pitching a high number of balls in a practice session or game. This can result in overuse injuries like the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury. To understand injury mechanisms, the effect of repetitive pitching on the elbow load magnitude and variability was investigated. In addition, we explored whether repetitive pitching affects elbow muscle activation during pitching. Fifteen pitchers threw each 60 to 110 balls. The external valgus torque and electromyography of three elbow muscles were quantified during each pitch. Linear mixed model analyses were performed to investigate the effect of repetitive pitching. On a group level, the linear mixed models showed no significant associations of repetitive pitching with valgus torque magnitude and variability and elbow muscle activity. Significant differences exist between pitchers in their individual trajectories in elbow valgus torque and muscle activity with repetitive pitching. This shows the importance of individuality in relation to repetitive pitching. In order to achieve effective elbow injury prevention in baseball pitching, individual characteristics of changes in elbow load and muscle activity in relation to the development of UCL injuries should be investigated.
| S-EPMC10567693 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesThe coordination of glenohumeral (GH) and scapular movements is central to the injury prevention of baseball pitchers. However, there is no objective data establishing the direct relationship between pitching injuries and associated GH and scapular movements. Therefore, this study demonstrated the biomechanical differences in the scapular and GH movements during pitching between injury-prone pitchers and healthy college baseball pitchers.MethodsA total of 30 collegiate baseball pitchers were classified into two groups according to their injury status: injury-prone group (n = 15) and control group (n = 15). We obtained pitching motion data using three-dimensional motion analysis technique.ResultsThe horizontal abduction angles of the GH joint during cocking and acceleration phases were considerably greater in the injury-prone pitchers (19.0° at stride foot contact [SFC], -4.0° at maximum external rotation [MER], and -0.3° at ball release) than those in healthy controls (11.7° at SFC, -10.0° at MER, and -6.9° at ball release). Additionally, in the cocking phase, the amount of angular change in the scapular external rotation (ER) was significantly smaller in the injury-prone group than that in the control group (mean difference, -13.0).ConclusionThese results suggest that the injury-prone pitchers have less internal rotation of the scapula and a more horizontal abduction of the GH joint during the cocking and acceleration phases. Therefore, sports medicine practitioners may need to pay considerable attention to the coordination of scapular and GH horizontal movements during pitching for prevention of shoulder injuries.
| S-EPMC10730127 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundPrevention of pitching-related elbow pain in youth baseball players is important. Overhead pitching involves a whole-body motion, including head-neck rotation. A limited range of motion of head-neck rotation may cause inefficient pitching motion; however, this association is unclear.PurposeTo determine whether the range of motion of head-neck rotation is associated with the history of pitching-related elbow pain in youth baseball players.Study designCross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.MethodsA total of 311 youth baseball players were selected and asked to complete a questionnaire survey about their age, weight, height, sex, baseball experience, main position, pitching side, and previous/current elbow pain during pitching. The range of motion of the upper and lower limb joints, head-neck rotation, and thoracic kyphosis angle were measured. Binomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the history of elbow pain related to pitching.ResultsThere were 101 players with a history of pitching-related elbow pain (history group) and 142 players with no pitching-related elbow pain (no-history group). The history group had significantly lower values than the no-history group regarding the range of motion of head-neck rotation on the nondominant side (74.9°± 9° vs 77.7°± 9.6°; P = .02) and overall head-neck rotation (150.6°± 14.7° vs 154.9°± 18.4°; P = .04). Binomial logistic regression analysis identified head-neck rotation on the nondominant side (odds ratio [OR], 0.97 [95% CI, 0.94-1.00]), shoulder horizontal adduction on the dominant side (OR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.96-1.00]), height (OR, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.00-1.08]), and playing position (pitcher) (OR, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.21-0.76]) as factors associated with a history of pitching-related elbow pain.ConclusionOur cross-sectional analysis demonstrated that youth baseball players with a history of pitching-related elbow pain had limited head-neck rotation range of motion on the nondominant side, and this was a significant factor associated with the history of pitching-related elbow pain.
| S-EPMC10894543 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Shoulder range of motion and pitch count in baseball pitchers have been linked to pitching-related upper extremity injury.To investigate upper extremity range of motion and pitching profiles in baseball pitchers in Japan as well as to make a comparison between injured and noninjured pitchers.Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Forty-one Little League to college-level baseball pitchers were measured for bilateral shoulder and elbow range of motion, including shoulder internal rotation (IR), external rotation (ER), shoulder horizontal adduction (HAD), and elbow extension (EXT). They were also asked to answer a simple questionnaire regarding their past pitching-related medical history and pitching profile. Additionally, 28 participants with baseball-related upper extremity injuries (injury group) were compared with 13 participants without injury (no-injury group) for the same parameters. Collected data were analyzed using analysis of variance.Significant limb differences (dominant vs nondominant side) were noted for ER (117.2° vs 109.8°, P = .02), IR (53.5° vs 61.9°, P = .007), HAD (28.3° vs 32.8°, P = .03), and EXT (1.0° vs 4.6°, P = .01). A significant between-group difference (injury vs no-injury group) was observed for IR in both the dominant (55.4° vs 45.6°, P = .03) and nondominant shoulder (65.3° vs 55.0°, P = .01). Participants in the injury group pitched more games in a season and more innings per game started.Japanese baseball pitchers displayed adaptive changes in upper extremity range of motion similar to American pitchers when compared bilaterally. Injured pitchers exhibited greater IR range of motion in their pitching arm compared with noninjured pitchers.
| S-EPMC5521341 | biostudies-other
Project description:Financial advisors often emphasize asset diversification as a means of limiting losses from investments that perform unexpectedly poorly over a particular time period. One might expect that this perceived wisdom could apply in another high stakes arena-professional baseball-where player salaries comprise a substantial portion of a team's operational costs, year-to-year player performance is highly variable, and injuries can occur at any time. These attributes are particularly true in the case of the starting pitching staffs of professional baseball teams. Accordingly, this study analyzes starting pitcher performance and financial data from all Major League Baseball teams for the period 1985-2016 to determine whether the standard investment advice is applicable in this context, understanding that the time horizon for success for an investor and a baseball team may be distinct. A multiple logistic regression model of playoff qualification probability, based on realized pitcher performance, measures of luck, and starting pitcher staff salary diversification is used to address this question. A further stratification is conducted to determine whether there are differences in strategy for teams with allocated financial resources that are above or below league average. We find that teams with above average resources increase their post-season qualification probability by focusing their salary funds on a relative few starting pitchers rather than diversifying that investment across the staff. Second, we find that pitcher performance must align with that investment in order for the team to have a high qualification probability. Third, the influence of luck is not negligible, but those teams that allocate more overall funds to their pitching are more resilient to bad luck. Thus, poorly resourced teams, who are generally unable to bid for pitchers at the highest salary levels, must adopt alternative strategies to maintain their competitiveness.
| S-EPMC7806120 | biostudies-literature