Comparison of Pelvis and Trunk Kinematics Between Youth and Collegiate Windmill Softball Pitchers

Wasserberger, Kyle; Friesen, Kenzie B.; Downs, Jessica; Bordelon, Nicole M.; Oliver, Gretchen D.

doi:10.1177/23259671211021826

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Research shows certain kinematics lead to lower earned run average among collegiate softball pitchers [30]. We also know that as players improve and mature, biomechanics change accordingly, leading to better pitch performance and skill development [12,31]. While the regression highlights the influence of body fat presence on pitch speed, there is evidence that the propulsion is not greatly affected by body fat percentage with implications for training and development for softball pitchers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Softball Pitching Propulsion and Performance Differences According to Body Fat Percentage

Friesen

Oliver

2022

Int J Sports Med

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Softball pitchers with a high body-fat percentage (bf%) can often be successful, despite the heightened risk of injury associated with high bf%. Given the importance of propulsion during pitching, those with high bf% may have an advantage performance-wise. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the differences in ground reaction force (GRF) development between two groups of pitchers: those with a high-fat percentage (≥32 bf%) and a healthy-fat percentage (<32 bf%). Thirty-two female high-school softball pitchers (1.70±.06 m, 76.09±17.50 kg, 15±1 yrs) completed dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans. GRF data were collected during pitch propulsion via a force plate, pitch speed was captured using a radar gun, BMI was calculated from pitcher height and mass, and fat free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) were calculated using DEXA data and pitcher height. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed pitcher group GRFs differed significantly (F3,30=3.45, p=.030). Univariate follow-up analyses showed healthy bf% pitchers presented greater weight-normalized peak medial GRF (F1,30=7.17, p=.012). BMI and FFMI were positively associated with pitch speed while bf% and FMI were negatively associated with pitch speed. While pitchers can be successful and carry excess bf%, results indicate potential performance disadvantages associated with having an increased bf%.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Softball Pitching Propulsion and Performance Differences According to Body Fat Percentage

Friesen

Oliver

2022

Int J Sports Med

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“…For motion capture, sensors were attached to the following locations: (1) posterior aspect of the trunk at the first thoracic vertebra spinous process; (2) posterior aspect of the pelvis at the first sacral vertebra; (3)(4) bilaterally, on the flat, broad portion of the acromion on the scapula; (5)(6) lateral aspect of the bilateral upper arm at the deltoid tuberosity; (7)(8) posterior aspect of the bilateral distal forearm; (9) dorsal aspect of the throwing hand, centered on the third metacarpal; (10)(11) lateral aspect of the bilateral upper leg, centered between the greater trochanter and the lateral condyle of the knee; (12-13) lateral aspect of bilateral lower leg, centered between the head of the fibula and lateral malleolus; and ( 14) dorsal aspect of the foot contralateral to pitching arm centered on the second metatarsal. 19,53 A 15th movable sensor attached to a plastic stylus was used for the digitization of bony landmarks. 33,34,56,57 Using a digitization method, a link segment model was developed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Trunk and Pelvic Kinematics in Youth Baseball Pitchers With and Without Upper Extremity Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Fava

Giordano

Friesen

et al. 2023

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine

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Background: Motion of the pelvis and trunk during baseball pitching is associated with increased upper extremity (UE) kinetics. Increased kinetics on the UE may lead to throwing-arm pain in youth pitchers. Limited biomechanical comparisons have been conducted on youth pitchers with and without throwing-arm pain to identify mechanical risk factors associated with pain. Purpose: To examine trunk and pelvic kinematics in youth baseball pitchers with and without UE pain. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 26 male youth baseball pitchers (mean age, 12.7 ± 1.5 years; mean height, 162.2 ± 12.9 cm; mean weight, 52.6 ± 13.1 kg) were recruited to participate. An electromagnetic tracking system was used to obtain kinematic data during the fastball pitch. Data from a health history questionnaire was examined. Participants who answered “yes” to experiencing pain and who selected a region on their UE as the pain location were placed into the UE pain group. Participants who responded “no” to experiencing pain were placed into the pain-free group. We compared between-group differences in trunk rotation, flexion, and lateral flexion; pelvic rotation, anteroposterior tilt, and lateral tilt; and hip-shoulder separation from peak knee height to ball release of the baseball pitch using 1-dimensional statistical parametric mapping with an alpha level set at .05. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the UE pain and pain-free groups in the 7 trunk and pelvic kinematics analyzed from peak knee height to ball release ( P > .05). Conclusion: Trunk and pelvic kinematics during the pitching motion did not differ between pain and pain-free groups of youth baseball pitchers.

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“…20 Additionally, the current study’s ETS was used to quantify pelvis and trunk kinematics in several published softball pitching studies. 9,23,26,33 We attached 14 electromagnetic sensors to the participants using previously established standards. 4 Position and orientation of body segments were consistent with International Society of Biomechanics recommendations.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pelvis and Trunk Energy Flow in Collegiate Softball Pitchers With and Without Upper Extremity Pain

et al. 2022

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Background: The softball pitch is a full-body motion, where efficient proximal to distal energy flow through the kinetic chain is said to reduce stress at the upper extremity. Although altered trunk kinematic parameters are associated with upper extremity pain in softball pitchers, further research is needed to determine whether differences exist in proximal energy flow between softball pitchers with and without pain. Hypothesis/Purpose: To examine pelvis and trunk energy flow during the acceleration phase of the pitch in collegiate softball pitchers with and without upper extremity pain. It was hypothesized that those with upper extremity pain would have less energy flowing into the proximal ends of the pelvis and trunk as well as less energy flowing out of the distal ends of the pelvis and trunk during the acceleration phase when compared with pitchers who did not have upper extremity pain. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: A total of 54 female National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I softball pitchers (age, 20.2 ± 2.0 years; height, 173.5 ± 6.9 cm; weight, 78.5 ± 11.5 kg) were assigned to pain (n = 17) and pain-free (n = 38) groups. Participants pitched 3 maximal effort rise-balls for a strike, and the average of the 3 trials was used for analysis. Kinematic data were collected at 100 Hz using an electromagnetic tracking system. A segment power analysis was performed to quantify energy flow for the pelvis and trunk. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare pelvis and trunk energy flow during the acceleration phase of the pitch as well as pitch velocity between collegiate softball pitchers with and without upper extremity pain. Results: No significant differences were found between pelvis and trunk energy flow during the acceleration phase or pitch velocity between collegiate softball pitchers with and without upper extremity pain (all P values >.057). Conclusion: Previous research determined that kinematic parameters differ between collegiate pitchers with and without upper extremity pain. However, the current study found no difference in pelvis and trunk energy flow or pitch velocity. Although altered kinematics in collegiate pitchers with upper extremity pain may serve as compensation patterns to maintain pitch velocity and proximal energy flow, future research is needed to confirm this postulation. Clinical Relevance: The lack of energy flow differences between upper extremity pain groups suggests that pitchers may adapt their biomechanics to maintain trunk and pelvis energy flow patterns. Coaches, athletes, and clinicians should know that movement adaptations can allow for maintained performance levels but may result in the presence of pain that may manifest in other deleterious and injury-susceptible biomechanics.

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Comparison of Pelvis and Trunk Kinematics Between Youth and Collegiate Windmill Softball Pitchers

Cited by 7 publications

References 27 publications

Softball Pitching Propulsion and Performance Differences According to Body Fat Percentage

Softball Pitching Propulsion and Performance Differences According to Body Fat Percentage

Comparison of Trunk and Pelvic Kinematics in Youth Baseball Pitchers With and Without Upper Extremity Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Pelvis and Trunk Energy Flow in Collegiate Softball Pitchers With and Without Upper Extremity Pain

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