Mechanical work, efficiency and energy redistribution mechanisms in baseball pitching

Naito, Kozo; Takagi, Hiroyasu; Minamikawa, Takeo

doi:10.1080/19346182.2012.686502

Cited by 24 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…This study adds valuable information to the limited body of research on the flow of mechanical energy during pitching, 34,43,50 however it is not without its limitations. Although the segmental power analysis employed in this study has been used by previous investigators to examine the energy flow in other human movements, 24,31,51 this approach is limited by the assumption that the mechanical power of a segment is generated (or absorbed) by torques about joints adjacent to this segment and does not take into account the power of anatomically distant segments to which these torques are not applied.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From this perspective, pitching performance and injury risk are compatible aspects of throwing that can be determined by how well a pitcher can maximize ball velocity while minimizing the energy from higher torques at the throwing shoulder and elbow. 1,2,34 Efficient throwing mechanics are, therefore, predicated on the flow of mechanical energy through the kinetic chain via the motion of body segments that ideally follows a sequence governed by the “summation of speed principle,” which states that a segment will initiate its rotation when the segment proximal to it reaches its peak velocity. 8,13,42…”

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confidence: 99%

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Segmental Power Analysis of Sequential Body Motion and Elbow Valgus Loading During Baseball Pitching: Comparison Between Professional and High School Baseball Players

Aguinaldo

Escamilla

2019

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine

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Background: Pitching-related elbow injuries remain prevalent across all levels of baseball. Elbow valgus torque has been identified as a modifiable risk factor of injuries to the ulnar collateral ligament in skeletally mature pitchers. Purpose: To examine how segmental energy flow (power) influences elbow valgus torque and ball speed in professional versus high school baseball pitchers. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: A total of 16 professional pitchers (mean age, 21.9 ± 3.6 years) and 15 high school pitchers (mean age, 15.5 ± 1.1 years) participated in marker-based motion analysis of baseball pitching. Ball speed, maximum elbow valgus torque (MEV), temporal parameters, and mechanical power of the trunk, upper arm, and forearm were collected and compared using parametric statistical methods. Results: Professional pitchers threw with a higher ball speed (36.3 ± 2.9 m/s) compared with high school pitchers (30.4 ± 3.5 m/s) ( P = .001), and MEV was greater in professional pitchers (71.3 ± 20.0 N·m) than in high school pitchers (50.7 ± 14.6 N·m) ( P = .003). No significant difference in normalized MEV was found between groups ( P = .497). Trunk rotation time, trunk power, and upper arm power combined to predict MEV ( r = 0.823, P < .001), while trunk rotation time and trunk power were the only predictors of ball speed ( r = 0.731, P < .001). There were significant differences between the professional and high school groups in the timing of maximum pelvis rotation velocity (42.9 ± 9.7% of the pitching cycle [%PC] vs 27.9 ± 23.4 %PC, respectively; P < .025), maximum trunk rotation (33 ± 16 %PC vs 2 ± 23 %PC, respectively; P = .001), and maximum shoulder internal rotation velocity (102.4 ± 8.9 %PC vs 93.0 ± 11.7 %PC, respectively; P = .017). Conclusion: The power of trunk motion plays a critical role in the development of elbow valgus torque and ball speed. Professional and high school pitchers do not differ in elbow torque relative to their respective size but appear to adopt different patterns of segmental motion. Clinical Relevance: Because trunk rotation supplies the power associated with MEV and ball speed, training methods aimed at core stabilization and flexibility may benefit professional and high school pitchers in reducing the injury risk and improving pitching performance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Segmental Power Analysis of Sequential Body Motion and Elbow Valgus Loading During Baseball Pitching: Comparison Between Professional and High School Baseball Players

Aguinaldo

Escamilla

2019

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine

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“…Several recent studies have focused on the mechanical energy transfer between body segments in sport motions such as the soccer kick and tennis serve (Martin et al, 2014;Naito, Fukui, & Maruyama, 2012;Naito, Takagi, & Maruyama, 2011). Understanding how the mechanical energy of the racket is acquired during the table tennis stroke may help players and coaches improve stroke efficiency.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Mechanical energy generation and transfer in the racket arm during table tennis topspin backhands

Iino

Kojima

2016

Sports Biomechanics

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The ability to generate a high racket speed and a large amount of racket kinetic energy on impact is important for table tennis players. The purpose of this study was to understand how mechanical energy is generated and transferred in the racket arm during table tennis backhands. Ten male advanced right-handed table tennis players hit topspin backhands against pre-impact topspin and backspin balls. The joint kinetics at the shoulder, elbow and wrist of the racket arm was determined using inverse dynamics. A majority of the mechanical energy of the racket arm acquired during forward swing (65 and 77% against topspin and backspin, respectively) was due to energy transfer from the trunk. Energy transfer by the shoulder joint force in the vertical direction was the largest contributor to the mechanical energy of the racket arm against both spins and was greater against backspin than against topspin (34 and 28%, respectively). The shoulder joint force directed to the right, which peaked just before impact, transferred additional energy to the racket. Our results suggest that the upward thrust of the shoulder and the late timing of the axial rotation of the upper trunk are important for an effective topspin backhand.

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“…In addition, the absolute values of positive work and/ or negative work during the supination phase were much smaller than the positive work value for the pronation phase immediately following the supination phase. The mechanical work for pronation/supination from the instant of lead foot contact until the instant of BRL is reportedly negligible, in comparison with that of the other joint movements in the throwing arm (Naito, Takagi, & Maruyama, 2011). It is likely that the reaction force originating in ball acceleration did not make a significant contribution to the supination phase.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Radio-ulnar joint supinates around ball release during baseball fastball pitching

Matsuo

Jinji

Hirayama

et al. 2016

Sports Biomechanics

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This study was conducted to determine whether a supination phase of the forearm exists around ball release (BRL), and, if present, to determine whether this supination is explained by a reaction force or by the body configuration required for this task. A 16-camera motion analysis system with a sampling frequency of 1,000 Hz recorded 20 healthy male semi-professional pitchers pitching from an indoor pitching mound. A short supination phase around BRL was confirmed for all participants in the current study. Correlation analyses revealed that the supination angle at BRL had significant relationships with several measurements of shoulder movement kinematics. Mechanical work analysis of the forearm's longitudinal axis revealed several variations in joint power curve and various patterns of mechanical work among the participants, suggesting that a reaction force originating from accelerating a ball might not be the main cause of supination. The raw data also were down-sampled to a sampling frequency of 250 Hz, to match previous studies and to investigate the discrepancy among previous studies concerning the existence of the supination phase. The experience of participants and methodological differences, such as the definition of BRL and the time-normalisation technique, influenced whether the supination phase was observed.

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Mechanical work, efficiency and energy redistribution mechanisms in baseball pitching

Cited by 24 publications

References 30 publications

Segmental Power Analysis of Sequential Body Motion and Elbow Valgus Loading During Baseball Pitching: Comparison Between Professional and High School Baseball Players

Segmental Power Analysis of Sequential Body Motion and Elbow Valgus Loading During Baseball Pitching: Comparison Between Professional and High School Baseball Players

Mechanical energy generation and transfer in the racket arm during table tennis topspin backhands

Radio-ulnar joint supinates around ball release during baseball fastball pitching

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