The Effect of Pitching Biomechanics on the Upper Extremity in Youth and Adolescent Baseball Pitchers

Abstract

The parameters described in this study may be used to improve the pitching mechanics of youth pitchers and possibly reduce shoulder and elbow pain in youth baseball pitchers.

The Association of Foot Arch Posture and Prior History of Shoulder or Elbow Surgery in Elite-Level Baseball Pitchers

“…22 Increases in lumbar lordosis have been shown to cause hyperabduction and hyper-ex ternal rotation of the shoulder during the pitching motion, creating increases in forces at the shoulder and elbow. 1,2,16 This abnormal increase in lordosis, spe cifically during the acceleration phase of the pitching motion, places the shoulder and elbow at risk of injury because of the higher forces.…”

Pediatric upper extremity stress injuries

“…Throwing mechanics may be evaluated by a sports physical therapist in cases involving overhead throwing athletes. Pitchers with better biomechanics generate lower humeral internal rotation torque, lower elbow valgus load, and increase efficiency, which facilitate injury prevention [20].…”

The Overhead Athlete

“…The baseball throwing motion was studied by videotaping, and specifi c defi cits in key trunk and arm motions that correlated with effi cient or ineffi cient mechanics were identifi ed [ 43 ]. The effi cient motions were associated with lower shoulder torque and lower elbow valgus load.…”

“…The effi cient motions were associated with lower shoulder torque and lower elbow valgus load. The fi ve effective motions identifi ed are the pelvis leading the trunk towards home plate during the early cocking phase, the throwing hand on top of the ball (pronated forearm) during in early cocking, the elbow reaching maximum height by stride foot contact, the lead shoulder closed and pointing towards home plate at stride foot contact, and the stride foot pointed towards home at stride foot contact [ 43 ].…”