BIOMECHANICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ONE-HANDED AND TWO-HANDED FOLLOW THROUGH TECHNIQUES AMONG PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL HITTERS

The purpose of this study was to compare the lead shoulder joint dynamics between one-handed and two-handed follow through batting techniques. Seventeen professional baseball players underwent motion analysis while hitting a ball off a tee using one- and two-handed follow through techniques. Linear mixed regression models were used to compare the kinematic and kinetic variables between the two techniques. Shoulder horizontal abduction, elbow flexion, and lateral trunk tilt differed between the follow through types. The shoulder kinetics increased greatly during a one-handed follow through compared to a two-handed follow through, with the horizontal adduction torque increasing 23.3 Nm and the proximal force increasing 117.2 N. A one-handed follow through increases the demands on the shoulder compared to a two-handed follow through

COMPARISON OF THROWING ARM MECHANICS DURING LONG-TOSS THROWING AND PITCHING IN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYERS

The purpose of this study was to quantify long-toss throwing mechanics of professional baseball pitchers and compare biomechanics of mound pitching to long-toss throwing. Kinematic and kinetic data from 19 professional baseball pitchers throwing from 18-m to 91-m, along with fastball pitches were analyzed using marker-based motion analysis and linear mixed models. Throwing approach and arc were not restricted for long-toss throws. Linear associations were found between the long-toss throwing distances and biomechanical metrics. While elbow and shoulder kinetics increased with distance, they were lower than pitching kinetics at shorter distances and did not significantly exceed the average pitching kinetics at the maximum distance. This is the first study to quantify long-toss throwing mechanics without restriction of throwing style

Relationships Among Shoulder Rotational Strength, Range of Motion, Pitching Kinetics, and Pitch Velocity in Collegiate Baseball Pitchers

Cross, JA, Higgins, AW, Dziuk, CC, Harris, GF, and Raasch, WG. Relationships among shoulder rotational strength, range of motion, pitching kinetics, and pitch velocity in collegiate baseball pitchers. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2022—Throwing shoulder injuries are the most common type of injury experienced by baseball pitchers. Weakness in the shoulder musculature and insufficient throwing arm range of motion are both risk factors for developing a shoulder injury. The goal of this study was to determine correlations among shoulder rotational strength, range of motion, pitching kinetics, and pitch velocity in collegiate pitchers. Thirteen uninjured male college pitchers were evaluated. Clinical measures included shoulder internal and external rotation range of motion, peak isokinetic internal and external rotator strength, and peak isometric internal and external rotator strength. Three-dimensional biomechanics were assessed as subjects threw from an indoor pitching mound to a strike zone net at regulation distance. Pearson\u27s correlations were used to assess the associations among the clinical measures and throwing metrics. Five significant correlations were found between peak shoulder compressive force and strength, and 4 significant correlations were found between pitching velocity and strength (p \u3c 0.05). No significant correlations were found between range of motion and pitching kinetics or velocity. Our results suggest that as shoulder rotational strength increases, the peak shoulder compressive force and pitch velocity both increase. Knowledge of relationships between strength metrics and pitching biomechanics may allow for improved strength training routines with the goal of increasing velocity without increasing injury risk