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Biomechanics Related to Increased Softball Pitcher Shoulder Stress: Implications for Injury Prevention

BACKGROUND: Softball pitchers exhibit high throwing shoulder distraction force, which is a theorized mechanism of throwing shoulder overuse injury. Windmill pitching involves a variety of highly individualistic pitching styles, and certain kinematics preceding ball release likely influence the amoun...

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Autores principales: Friesen, Kenzie B., Saper, Michael G., Oliver, Gretchen D.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: SAGE Publications 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8739590/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34779664
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/03635465211055141
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author Friesen, Kenzie B.
Saper, Michael G.
Oliver, Gretchen D.
author_facet Friesen, Kenzie B.
Saper, Michael G.
Oliver, Gretchen D.
author_sort Friesen, Kenzie B.
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: Softball pitchers exhibit high throwing shoulder distraction force, which is a theorized mechanism of throwing shoulder overuse injury. Windmill pitching involves a variety of highly individualistic pitching styles, and certain kinematics preceding ball release likely influence the amount of shoulder stress that a pitcher accrues. PURPOSE: To examine the association of trunk and throwing arm kinematics, kinetics, and timing variables with peak throwing shoulder distraction force in high school softball pitchers. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive laboratory study. METHODS: A total of 37 high school pitchers (mean ± SD; height, 1.71 ± 0.06 m; weight, 75.53 ± 16.12 kg; age, 16 ± 2 years) threw 10 fastball pitches at regulation distance (43 ft [13.1 m]) and with maximum effort. Kinematic data were collected at 240 Hz using an electromagnetic motion capture system synced with motion analysis software. The 3 fastest pitches were averaged and analyzed. Kinematic, kinetic, and timing variables were entered into a stepwise linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Four variables were included in the significant model (F(4,39) = 147.51; P < .001) and explained peak shoulder distraction force (R(2) = 0.944; adjusted R(2) = 0.938; SE = 0.036): increased peak elbow distraction force (t = 19.90; P < .001) and extension moment (t = 3.63; P = .001), as well as decreased elbow flexion velocity (t = −2.37; P = .023) and trunk flexion at foot contact of the pitch (t = −3.00; P = .005). CONCLUSION: Elbow kinetics and angular velocity, as well as trunk positioning at foot contact, are associated with peak throwing shoulder distraction force in high school softball pitchers. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Variables associated with peak throwing shoulder distraction force provide information regarding injury mechanism and coachable cues that might reduce shoulder injury risk among pitchers.
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spelling pubmed-87395902022-01-08 Biomechanics Related to Increased Softball Pitcher Shoulder Stress: Implications for Injury Prevention Friesen, Kenzie B. Saper, Michael G. Oliver, Gretchen D. Am J Sports Med Articles BACKGROUND: Softball pitchers exhibit high throwing shoulder distraction force, which is a theorized mechanism of throwing shoulder overuse injury. Windmill pitching involves a variety of highly individualistic pitching styles, and certain kinematics preceding ball release likely influence the amount of shoulder stress that a pitcher accrues. PURPOSE: To examine the association of trunk and throwing arm kinematics, kinetics, and timing variables with peak throwing shoulder distraction force in high school softball pitchers. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive laboratory study. METHODS: A total of 37 high school pitchers (mean ± SD; height, 1.71 ± 0.06 m; weight, 75.53 ± 16.12 kg; age, 16 ± 2 years) threw 10 fastball pitches at regulation distance (43 ft [13.1 m]) and with maximum effort. Kinematic data were collected at 240 Hz using an electromagnetic motion capture system synced with motion analysis software. The 3 fastest pitches were averaged and analyzed. Kinematic, kinetic, and timing variables were entered into a stepwise linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Four variables were included in the significant model (F(4,39) = 147.51; P < .001) and explained peak shoulder distraction force (R(2) = 0.944; adjusted R(2) = 0.938; SE = 0.036): increased peak elbow distraction force (t = 19.90; P < .001) and extension moment (t = 3.63; P = .001), as well as decreased elbow flexion velocity (t = −2.37; P = .023) and trunk flexion at foot contact of the pitch (t = −3.00; P = .005). CONCLUSION: Elbow kinetics and angular velocity, as well as trunk positioning at foot contact, are associated with peak throwing shoulder distraction force in high school softball pitchers. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Variables associated with peak throwing shoulder distraction force provide information regarding injury mechanism and coachable cues that might reduce shoulder injury risk among pitchers. SAGE Publications 2021-11-15 2022-01 /pmc/articles/PMC8739590/ /pubmed/34779664 http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/03635465211055141 Text en © 2021 The Author(s) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work as published without adaptation or alteration, without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
spellingShingle Articles
Friesen, Kenzie B.
Saper, Michael G.
Oliver, Gretchen D.
Biomechanics Related to Increased Softball Pitcher Shoulder Stress: Implications for Injury Prevention
title Biomechanics Related to Increased Softball Pitcher Shoulder Stress: Implications for Injury Prevention
title_full Biomechanics Related to Increased Softball Pitcher Shoulder Stress: Implications for Injury Prevention
title_fullStr Biomechanics Related to Increased Softball Pitcher Shoulder Stress: Implications for Injury Prevention
title_full_unstemmed Biomechanics Related to Increased Softball Pitcher Shoulder Stress: Implications for Injury Prevention
title_short Biomechanics Related to Increased Softball Pitcher Shoulder Stress: Implications for Injury Prevention
title_sort biomechanics related to increased softball pitcher shoulder stress: implications for injury prevention
topic Articles
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8739590/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34779664
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/03635465211055141
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