Humeral torsion does not dictate shoulder position, but does influence throwing speed

Roach, Neil T.; Richmond, Brian G.

doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.05.011

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…The longer the arc of rotation through which angular acceleration is achieved, the greater the velocity of the hand and therefore the greater the velocity of the baseball at ball release. The study of Roach and Richmond 12 found a significant positive correlation ( r = 0.44; P = .03) between HRA and pitching velocity within collegiate baseball; however, this result was not replicated within the present sample. Contributions from other forces and interactive moments at various points within the kinetic chain are of high importance.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 82%

Bilateral Humeral Retrotorsion Angle Measured Using an Ultrasound-Assisted Technique in Asian Baseball Players

Ike

Momma

Numaguchi

et al. 2023

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine

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Background: Repetitive pitching is thought to restrict the physiological derotation process of the humeral head. Some studies have reported that side-to-side differences in the humeral retrotorsion angle (ΔHRA) occur between the ages of 9 and 11 years in baseball players. However, it remains unclear whether the ΔHRA in Asian baseball players depends on pitching skill or competitive level. Purpose: To evaluate the ΔHRA in Asian collegiate and professional baseball players and to determine the effects of pitching activity on the physiological derotation process of the humeral head. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We evaluated 128 shoulders in 64 Asian baseball players who were stratified into 4 groups as follows: 13 professional pitchers; 9 professional fielders; 8 collegiate pitchers; and 34 collegiate fielders. The throwing and nonthrowing side HRA was assessed using an ultrasound-assisted technique, and the ΔHRA was compared among the 4 groups. In addition, Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between ΔHRA and glenohumeral range of motion, baseball starting age, and fastball velocity in pitchers. Results: The HRA was significantly greater in the throwing arm than in the nonthrowing arm in each group, with no significant differences among the groups. There was no correlation between ΔHRA and range of motion or fastball velocity. There was a significant negative correlation between baseball starting age and ΔHRA in professional fielders ( r = –0.633; P = .036). Conclusion: The findings of the present study provide evidence that in Asian baseball players, the HRA was significantly greater in the throwing arm than in the nonthrowing arm. There were no clear associations between HRA and pitching ability or competitive level.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 82%

Bilateral Humeral Retrotorsion Angle Measured Using an Ultrasound-Assisted Technique in Asian Baseball Players

Ike

Momma

Numaguchi

et al. 2023

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine

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“…Activity patterns throughout life also influence the degree of torsion, likely as a result of a functional imbalance between muscles involved in medial and lateral rotation (Birch, ; Cowgill, ; L'Episcopo, ). For example, tool use such as knapping generates strong internal rotational forces acting to modify the humerus, and increase humeral torsion (discussed in Roach & Richmond, ). In contrast, overhand throwing leads to a posterior orientation of the humeral head, generating external rotational forces and decreasing the humeral torsion of the dominant arm by 10°–20°.…”

Section: Upper Limb Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Collation of evidence from developmental studies and throwing performance allowed the synthesis of a new argument to counter previous interpretations of the fossil record. Instead of torsional asymmetry being interpreted as a skeletal hallmark of throwing (Rhodes & Churchill, ), torsional asymmetry may reflect the opposing effects of The internal rotational forces arising from recent tool use which lead to higher torsion in the nondominant arm, and The external rotational forces stemming from throwing serving to maintain lower torsion in the dominant arm (Roach & Richmond, ). …”

Section: Upper Limb Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human athletic paleobiology; using sport as a model to investigate human evolutionary adaptation

Longman

Wells²,

Stock

2020

American J Phys Anthropol

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The use of sport as a conceptual framework offers unprecedented opportunities to improve our understanding of what the body does, shedding new light on our evolutionary trajectory, our capacity for adaptation, and the underlying biological mechanisms. This approach has gained traction over recent years. To date, sport has facilitated exploration not only of the evolutionary history of our species as a whole, but also of human variation and adaptation at the interindividual and intraindividual levels. At the species level, analysis of lower and upper limb biomechanics and energetics with respect to walking, running and throwing have led to significant advances in the understanding of human adaptations relative to other hominins. From an interindividual perspective, investigation of physical activity patterns and endurance running performance is affording greater understanding of evolved constraints of energy expenditure, thermoregulatory energetics, signaling theory, and morphological variation. Furthermore, ultra-endurance challenges provoke functional trade-offs, allowing new ground to be broken in the study of life history trade-offs and human adaptability. Human athletic paleobiology-the recruitment of athletes as study participants and the use of contemporary sports as a model for studying evolutionary theory-has great potential. Here, we draw from examples in the literature to provide a review of how the use of athletes as a model system is enhancing understanding of human evolutionary adaptation. K E Y W O R D S adaptation, human athletic paleobiology, human evolution, plasticity, sport 1 | INTRODUCTION The fossil record provides evidence about the form and physical characteristics of the human or hominin body, and their changes over time. However, a central challenge of hominin paleobiology is the interpretation of the body's function from its form; how do we walk, run, use tools, and move within the landscape, and how did these functions themselves evolve? Stemming from this, what is the nature of the physiological mechanisms that underpin observed variation in form and function? The use of sport as a conceptual framework offers unprecedented opportunities to improve our understanding of what the body does, shedding new light on our evolutionary trajectory, our capacity for adaptation, and the underlying biological mechanisms.There has been increasing interest in the model system provided by athletes to enhance our understanding of human evolutionary theory. To date, studies of athletes have facilitated exploration of three key levels of variation and adaptation within the field of human evolution ( Figure 1).

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“…On the other hand, some studies in the field of sports medicine indicate that individuals who engage in habitual throwing have increased humeral retroversion angles in their throwing arms and a greater degree of bilateral asymmetry in retroversion angles than nonthrowers (Kuhn, 2016; Larson, 2007b; Roach et al, 2012, 2013; Roach & Lieberman, 2014; Roach & Richmond, 2015). This view proposes that greater external rotational range of motion at the shoulder increases throwing velocity and relates the high degrees of humeral retroversion in the fossil specimens to this activity.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Main anatomical characteristics of the hominin fossil humeri from the Sima de los Huesos Middle Pleistocene site, Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain: An update

Carretero¹,

García‐González

Rodríguez

et al. 2023

The Anatomical Record

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Some of the Sima de los Huesos (SH) humeri have been previously studied and described elsewhere. Here we present an updated inventory and a review of the specimens recovered to the present day. The morphological key traits of the adult and subadult specimens are described, discussed, and illustrated. The SH humeri share with Neandertals many traits usually considered to be Neandertal specializations, thus, most of this morphological pattern is not exclusive to them. The variation found within fossil samples stresses the frequential nature of all these traits and in the specific case of the SH humeri, most of the traits considered as phylogenetically relevant are retained by their descendants, the Neandertals. Some traits are plesiomorphic for the entire genus Homo or are present in European hominins since the early Pleistocene. Finally, some other traits display high variability within the SH sample or different hominin samples and are of uncertain phylogenetic value. Altogether, this evidence is consistent with the hypothesis based on the overall cranial and postcranial morphology that the SH hominins are a sister group to the later Neandertals.

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Humeral torsion does not dictate shoulder position, but does influence throwing speed

Cited by 8 publications

References 49 publications

Bilateral Humeral Retrotorsion Angle Measured Using an Ultrasound-Assisted Technique in Asian Baseball Players

Bilateral Humeral Retrotorsion Angle Measured Using an Ultrasound-Assisted Technique in Asian Baseball Players

Human athletic paleobiology; using sport as a model to investigate human evolutionary adaptation

Main anatomical characteristics of the hominin fossil humeri from the Sima de los Huesos Middle Pleistocene site, Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain: An update

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