Baseball Pitching Biomechanics
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Baseball Pitching Biomechanics
The main aim of this article is to integrate the studies based on baseball biomechanics related to pitchers’ performance and injuries. As advancement in sports, science organization has been developing for the last ten years; the attentiveness has increased rapidly in utilizing these encroachments to benefit the pitchers. As with many players’ movement mode, the biomechanics of baseball pitching is premeditated to advance the performance and rehabilitate injuries.
Kinematics and velocity are among the most significant elements that make a pitcher more effective. Kinematic measures improve ball velocity when an athlete throws quick pitches. Implicit in high speed of the ball is higher kinetic standards for both the shoulder and elbow. Pitching kinematic moves that affect velocity is set up in both the lower and upper body (Fortenbaugh et al., 2009). However, pitching utilizes the kinetic structure to transmit power from lower parts of the body to the upper parts.
During acceleration and arm cocking phases, quick consecutive rotation of the shoulder, pelvis, and upper torso causes distal sections to lag behind the proximal section. Conversely, the lag between distal and proximal section rotations ensures that the proximal segment reaches a high angular velocity before the instigation of distal segment rotation. The lag, therefore, results in acute elongation o muscles that cross the segments, which allow the muscles to produce energy through the application of the stretch cycle (Fortenbaugh et al., 2009). While the distal segment and sequential segment lag are essential for effective pitching, they also cause joint injuries.
Additionally, pelvis rotation and improper lead foot mechanics produce medial elbow force and extra shoulder force. If, in any case, there is deficient or extreme external rotation of the shoulder at foot contact, the pitching arm may be in an erroneous condition, thus causing shoulder or elbow stress. Baseball coaches train pitchers to keep their shoulders abduction at 90 degrees during the match because this angle maximizes the speed of the ball and lower the fatigue on the arm. In the arm cocking phase, an athlete who applies excessive force when adducting the horizontal shoulder increases medial elbow power and horizontal adduction of the shoulder rotation. For instance, a pitcher experiences valgus torque when the arm stretches outward and, as a result, places excess fatigue on the hinge point. When a pitcher throws a ball, the force is absorbed by connective tissues between bones and muscles on the ligament and forearm. Therefore, when the arm muscles are whacked and cannot contract appropriately, more stress is likely to be placed on the UCL.
The article argues that the application of excessive force on shoulder rotation results in increased pressure on the biceps labral complex (Fortenbaugh et al., 2009). The pressure on the long head of the biceps twitches the labrum back, creating extra stress on the superior labrum. A combination of stress and tensile loading is posited as a probable cause of superior labrum anterior-posterior gashes in overhead pitchers.
The deceleration of shoulder rotation causes tension on biceps tendon and rotation compression, joints, and posterior rotation compression through horizontal abduction force. However, the thorax interconnects with a thoraco-humeral joint, which, when used, leads to an over-approximation of the rotating force applied on the shoulder. The thoraco- joint will disregard the force produced by the upward and forward rendition of the shoulder girdle.
In conclusion, various kinetic parameters are related to ball velocity and joint kinetics. For pitchers to promote good performance and reduce injury menaces, they are urged to exercise and learn applicable baseball technicalities at an early stage. Athletes should avoid overuse and pitching when feeling exhausted to lower the menaces of arm injuries.
References
Fortenbaugh, D., Fleisig, G. S., & Andrews, J. R. (2009). Baseball pitching biomechanics in relation to injury risk and performance. Sports Health, 1(4), 314-320.