Cross, JA, Higgins, AW, Dziuk, CC, Harris, GF, and Raasch, WG. Relationships among shoulder rotational strength, range of motion, pitching kinetics, and pitch velocity in collegiate baseball pitchers. J Strength Cond Res 37(1): 129–135, 2023—Throwing shoulder injuries are the most common type of injury experienced by baseball pitchers. Weakness in the shoulder musculature and insufficient throwing arm range of motion are both risk factors for developing a shoulder injury. The goal of this study was to determine correlations among shoulder rotational strength, range of motion, pitching kinetics, and pitch velocity in collegiate pitchers. Thirteen uninjured male college pitchers were evaluated. Clinical measures included shoulder internal and external rotation range of motion, peak isokinetic internal and external rotator strength, and peak isometric internal and external rotator strength. Three-dimensional biomechanics were assessed as subjects threw from an indoor pitching mound to a strike zone net at regulation distance. Pearson's correlations were used to assess the associations among the clinical measures and throwing metrics. Five significant correlations were found between peak shoulder compressive force and strength, and 4 significant correlations were found between pitching velocity and strength (p < 0.05). No significant correlations were found between range of motion and pitching kinetics or velocity. Our results suggest that as shoulder rotational strength increases, the peak shoulder compressive force and pitch velocity both increase. Knowledge of relationships between strength metrics and pitching biomechanics may allow for improved strength training routines with the goal of increasing velocity without increasing injury risk.

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Context: Inadequate hip active range of motion (AROM) may stifle the energy flow through the kinematic chain and decrease pitching performance while increasing the risk for pitcher injury. Objective: To examine the relationship of hip AROM and pitching biomechanics during a fastball pitch in adolescent baseball pitchers. Design: Cross-Sectional study. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Participants: A voluntary sample of 21 adolescent baseball pitchers (16.1 ± 0.8 yrs.; 183.9 ± 5.2 cm; 77.9 ± 8.3 kg). Main Outcome Measure (s): Bilateral hip internal rotation (IR), external rotation (ER), flexion, extension, and abduction AROM were measured. Three-dimensional biomechanics were assessed as participants threw from an indoor pitching mound to a strike zone net at regulation distance. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to determine correlations between hip AROM and biomechanical metrics. Results: Statistically significant negative correlations were found at foot contact between back hip ER AROM and back hip abduction angle (p=0.030, r=−0.474), back hip ER AROM and torso rotation angle (p=0.032, r=−0.468),and back hip abduction AROM and lead hip abduction angle (p=0.037, r=−0.458). Back hip extension AROM was positively correlated with increased stride length (p=0.043, r=0.446). Lead hip abduction AROM was also positively correlated with normalized elbow varus torque (p=0.034, r=0.464). Conclusions: There were several relationships between hip AROM and biomechanical variables during the pitching motion. The findings support the influence hip AROM can have on pitching biomechanics. Overall, greater movement at the hips allows for the kinematic chain to work at its maximal efficiency, increasing pitch velocity potential.

Context Hip strength may influence the energy flow through the kinematic chain during baseball pitching, creating a relationship with athlete performance as well as risk for injury. Objective To identify associations between hip strength and pitching biomechanics in adolescent baseball pitchers during three key events of the pitching cycle. Design Cross-Sectional study. Setting Biomechanics laboratory. Participants Twenty-six adolescent male baseball pitchers (16.1 ± 0.8 yrs.; 184.29 ± 5.5 cm; 77.5 ± 8.5 kg). Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures were hip strength (external rotation, internal rotation, flexion, abduction, adduction, and extension). After strength measurements were obtained, motion capture was used to obtain a full body biomechanical analysis at three different events during the pitching cycle (foot contact, maximal external rotation, and ball release). These values were then evaluated for associations between hip strength and pitching biomechanics. Scatterplots were examined for linearity to determine an appropriate correlation test. Associations examined were linear, thus two-tailed Pearson correlation coefficients were used to determine correlations between biomechanical metrics. A significance level of p &lt; 0.01 was chosen. Results Ten strong correlations were found between pitching biomechanics and hip strength: eight correlations between hip strength and kinematics at key points during the pitch, and two correlations of hip strength with peak elbow varus torque. Conclusion Several correlations were found between lower extremity strength and pitching biomechanics. This information provides data that may be used to increase performance or reduce injury in pitchers. Increases in hip strength in adolescent pitchers may both improve performance, and decrease risk of injury.