CONNECTING THE DOTS
Baseball pitching is one of the most demanding activities in sports on the human body. In an activity where maximum speeds have been measured at 100 mph or greater, the demand on the throwing arm is great, especially at the shoulder and elbow. While maximizing the speed of the ball is not the ultimate goal, it often improves the chance of getting the hitter out. Pitching plays an important role in the success of a baseball team. It has been estimated that anywhere from 60-75% of the outcome of any given baseball game is determined by the pitching. There is an absolute relationship between pitching kinematics, ball velocity, and potential mechanisms of injury.
injury correlation
Possible consequences of upper extremity injuries in baseball players include surgery, prolonged time loss from sports, decreased quality of life due to difficulty performing activities of daily living, cost, and retirement from baseball. To reach the level of elite, most baseball pitchers need to consistently produce high ball velocity, but avoid high joint loads at the shoulder and elbow that may lead to injury.
It is theorized that "improper" pitching technique leads to injury by placing added stress on the shoulder and elbow joints, creates shoulder and elbow pain, and pitching related to upper extremity injuries. However, evidence that directly links pitching technique to pitching related upper-extremity injuries is limited. There is evidence to support that increased joint loading during pitching is associated with upper extremity injuries and separate sets of evidence demonstrate effects of pitching technique on joint loading.
One study showed that pitchers capable of throwing at higher maximum ball velocity had a higher risk of elbow injury and that the players throwing at the highest velocity had injuries requiring surgical reconstruction.
It is theorized that "improper" pitching technique leads to injury by placing added stress on the shoulder and elbow joints, creates shoulder and elbow pain, and pitching related to upper extremity injuries. However, evidence that directly links pitching technique to pitching related upper-extremity injuries is limited. There is evidence to support that increased joint loading during pitching is associated with upper extremity injuries and separate sets of evidence demonstrate effects of pitching technique on joint loading.
One study showed that pitchers capable of throwing at higher maximum ball velocity had a higher risk of elbow injury and that the players throwing at the highest velocity had injuries requiring surgical reconstruction.
RELATION TO PERFORMANCE
Basic factors in pitching
Shoulder and elbow kinematics and kinetics of the pitching motion for a given pitcher do not change over the course of a game as a pitcher fatigues, even though ball velocity may drop off.
The image on the left illustrates the biomechanical factors that influence success in pitching. The linear velocity the ball possesses as it leaves the hand on its way to the batter is directly related to the forces applied to it during pitching and the distances over which these forces are applied. The successful pitching of curves, sliders, and so on are very dependent upon the optimum angular velocity being obtained at the moment of release. The angular velocity depends on the torques applied to it during release. The torque magnitude is directly related to the magnitudes and directions of the forces exerted on the ball by the pitcher's fingers.
So much of the emphasis on baseball pitching is put on the upper body when in fact the lower body may be the most significant aspect. Pitching utilizes the kinetic chain to transfer energy from the lower body to the upper body. Maximum linear wrist velocity is directly correlated with the maximal push-off force of the throwing leg in direction of the pitch. The push-off forces supply the initial forward momentum of the body, whereas the braking force that is applied by the lead leg during and after foot contact is actually the source of energy that is transmitted up the body to maximize power output. Decreases in stride length increase velocity without affecting accuracy.
The image on the left illustrates the biomechanical factors that influence success in pitching. The linear velocity the ball possesses as it leaves the hand on its way to the batter is directly related to the forces applied to it during pitching and the distances over which these forces are applied. The successful pitching of curves, sliders, and so on are very dependent upon the optimum angular velocity being obtained at the moment of release. The angular velocity depends on the torques applied to it during release. The torque magnitude is directly related to the magnitudes and directions of the forces exerted on the ball by the pitcher's fingers.
So much of the emphasis on baseball pitching is put on the upper body when in fact the lower body may be the most significant aspect. Pitching utilizes the kinetic chain to transfer energy from the lower body to the upper body. Maximum linear wrist velocity is directly correlated with the maximal push-off force of the throwing leg in direction of the pitch. The push-off forces supply the initial forward momentum of the body, whereas the braking force that is applied by the lead leg during and after foot contact is actually the source of energy that is transmitted up the body to maximize power output. Decreases in stride length increase velocity without affecting accuracy.