The influence of elbow joint kinematics on wrist speed in cricket fast bowling

Abstract

This modelling study sought to describe the relationships between elbow joint kinematics and wrist joint linear velocity in cricket fast bowlers, and to assess the sensitivity of wrist velocity to systematic manipulations of empirical joint kinematic profiles. A 12-camera Vicon motion analysis system operating at 250 Hz recorded the bowling actions of 12 high performance fast bowlers. Empirical elbow joint kinematic data were entered into a cricket bowling specific "Forward Kinematic Model" and then subsequently underwent fixed angle, angular offset and angle amplification manipulations. A combination of 20° flexion and 20° abduction at the elbow was shown to maximise wrist velocity within the experimental limits. An increased elbow flexion offset manipulation elicited an increase in wrist velocity. Amplification of elbow joint flexion-extension angular displacement indicated that, contrary to previous research, elbow extension range of motion and angular velocity at the time of ball release were negatively related to wrist velocity. Some relationships between manipulated joint angular waveforms and wrist velocity were non-linear, supporting the use of a model that accounts for the non-linear relationships between execution and outcome variables in assessing the relationships between elbow joint kinematics and wrist joint velocity in cricket fast bowlers.

The effect of elbow hyperextension on ball speed in cricket fast bowling

“…This creates a trade-off between the two and an optimal recoil percentage exists for each peak elbow hyperextension in order to maximise the gain in ball speed (Figure 4). The increase in ball speed of non-recoiling elbow hyperextensions over a straight arm disagrees with the results found by Middleton et al (2015) which indicated that an elbow with a fixed offset in hyperextension bowled slower than a straight arm. It is proposed that an increase in ball speed is always possible with a flexion/extension and/or abduction/adduction offset as long as the orientation of the upper arm increases the ability for the shoulder to do work as suggested by Marshall and Ferdinands (2003).…”

“…It is proposed that an increase in ball speed is always possible with a flexion/extension and/or abduction/adduction offset as long as the orientation of the upper arm increases the ability for the shoulder to do work as suggested by Marshall and Ferdinands (2003). Previous research investigating the effect of flexion or extension of the elbow from upper arm horizontal to ball release has found differing results where both flexion (Middleton et al, 2015) and extension (Portus et al, 2006;Roca et al, 2006) have been shown to increase ball speed. The results in this study show that a greater increase in ball speed is caused by the recoil (mechanism 2) than extension to peak hyperextension (mechanism 1) which agrees with Middleton et al (2015).…”

“…The results of these investigations into the effect of elbow extension on ball speed suggest that there appears to be a relationship between elbow extension and ball release speed (Portus et al, 2006;Roca et al, 2006). Further research by Middleton et al (2015) has suggested however, that increased joint extension does not necessarily result in increased wrist velocity but those bowlers who flex their elbow joint immediately prior to ball release gain an advantage in increased ball release velocity. A linear relationship was also found when investigating how a flexion-extension offset from a straight arm affects wrist velocity with a hyperextended arm being slowest and a flexed arm fastest.…”

“…Two forward dynamic simulation models have previously been developed for cricket bowling (Ferdinands et al, 2008;Middleton et al, 2015). Ferdinands et al (2008) developed a preliminary model which required kinetic inputs derived from inverse dynamics which could be manipulated to elicit kinematic effects.…”

“…Ferdinands et al (2008) developed a preliminary model which required kinetic inputs derived from inverse dynamics which could be manipulated to elicit kinematic effects. Middleton et al (2015) developed a 3D model which required the joint angle-time histories to be input. The elbow joint-angle time history was manipulated to investigate the effect differing joint angle-time histories had on wrist speed.…”