Hip Strength and Pitching Biomechanics in Adolescent Baseball Pitchers. J Athl Train 2023 Mar 01;58(3):271-278
Date
06/21/2022Pubmed ID
35724364Pubmed Central ID
PMC10176844DOI
10.4085/1062-6050-0074.22Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85159542557 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 1 CitationAbstract
CONTEXT: Hip strength may influence the energy flow through the kinematic chain during baseball pitching, affecting athlete performance as well as the risk for injury.
OBJECTIVE: To identify associations between hip strength and pitching biomechanics in adolescent baseball pitchers during 3 key events of the pitching cycle.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
SETTING: Biomechanics laboratory.
PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 26 adolescent male baseball pitchers (age = 16.1 ± 0.8 years, height = 184.29 ± 5.5 cm, mass = 77.5 ± 8.5 kg).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The main outcome measure was hip strength (external rotation, internal rotation, flexion, abduction, adduction, and extension). After strength measurements were acquired, motion capture was used to obtain a full-body biomechanical analysis at 3 events during the pitching cycle (foot contact, maximal external rotation, and ball release). We then evaluated these values for associations between hip strength and pitching biomechanics. Scatterplots were examined for linearity to identify an appropriate correlation test. The associations were linear; thus, 2-tailed Pearson correlation coefficients were used to determine correlations between biomechanical metrics. An α level of .01 was chosen.
RESULTS: Ten strong correlations were found between pitching biomechanics and hip strength: 8 correlations between hip strength and kinematics at key points during the pitch and 2 correlations of hip strength with peak elbow-varus torque.
CONCLUSIONS: Several correlations were noted between lower extremity strength and pitching biomechanics. This information provides data that may be used to improve performance or reduce injury (or both) in pitchers. Increased hip strength in adolescent pitchers may both improve performance and decrease the risk of injury.
Author List
Albiero ML, Kokott W, Dziuk C, Cross JAAuthor
Janelle A. Cross PhD Assistant Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentBaseball
Biomechanical Phenomena
Cross-Sectional Studies
Elbow Joint
Foot
Humans
Lower Extremity
Male
