Relationships between hip strength and pitching biomechanics in adolescent baseball pitchers

Evaluation of Hip Characteristics in Baseball and Softball Athletes with and Without Throwing Arm Pain

“…Recent data in both baseball and softball suggest a relationship between hip strength and injury risk in throwing athletes. Albiero et al 26 reported that elbow varus torque was found to be strongly correlated with both stride and stance hip strength in adolescent baseball pitchers. Additionally, it has been documented that collegiate pitchers reporting upper extremity pain present with decreased hip ER ROM on the throwing side (stance) and reductions in hip IR (throwing side) isometric strength and hip ER (glove side) isometric strength 23 .…”

“…reported decreases in hip abduction strength in baseball pitchers over the course of a season 25 . Furthermore, stance hip extension strength has been positively correlated with hip-shoulder separation angle during the pitch, and both stride and stance hip abduction strength has been positively correlated with elbow valgus torque 26 . Increased rotational forces created by increased hip strength measures may be a risk factor for injury, if the result is increased forces on the upper extremity 27 .…”

“…If motion progresses efficiently from the legs, through the trunk, to the throwing arm and hand before ball release 8 , the throwing athlete will then be able to deliver a ball at high speeds without added shear stress on the throwing shoulder girdle and elbow 9 . Moreover, any restrictions along this linked segmental chain, i. e. at the hips, can negatively impact performance 10 .…”