Department of Kinesiology, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA, USA.
Department of Physical Therapy, California State University, Sacramento, CA, USA.
Sports Biomech. 2022 Aug;21(7):824-836. doi: 10.1080/14763141.2019.1696881. Epub 2020 Feb 5.
The flow of mechanical energy of segmental motion during baseball pitching is poorly understood, particularly in relation to the valgus torque at the elbow which is prone to pitching-related injuries. This study employed an induced power analysis to determine the components of muscle and velocity-dependent torques that contribute to the power of throwing arm segments when the elbow is under valgus load during the arm-cocking phase of pitching. The 3D throwing kinematics and kinetics of 10 adult pitchers were included in this analysis. Pitchers threw with a maximum elbow valgus torque of 73 ± 20 N•m. The trunk flexion and rotation components of the velocity-dependent torque were the greatest contributors to the work of the forearm at -0.53 ± 0.22 J/kg and -0.43 ± 0.21 J/kg, respectively. Approximately 86% of the total energy transferred through the elbow by the velocity-dependent torque was due to trunk motion, which appears to drive the power of accelerating the throwing elbow in valgus. These results support the importance of trunk motion as a key component in the development of elbow torque and ball velocity. Therefore, this study has practical implications for baseball pitchers seeking to minimise injury risk while improving performance.
在棒球投球过程中，节段运动的机械能流动情况了解甚少，特别是与肘部的外翻扭矩有关，而这种扭矩容易导致与投球相关的损伤。本研究采用感应功率分析来确定在投球的手臂挥摆阶段，当肘部承受外翻负荷时，对投掷臂节段的投掷功率有贡献的肌肉和速度相关扭矩的组成部分。该分析纳入了 10 名成年投手的 3D 投掷运动学和动力学数据。投手投出的最大肘部外翻扭矩为 73±20 N•m。速度相关扭矩的躯干屈伸和旋转分量分别是前臂做功的最大贡献者，贡献值为-0.53±0.22 J/kg 和-0.43±0.21 J/kg。速度相关扭矩通过肘部传递的总能量中，约有 86%归因于躯干运动，这似乎推动了加速外翻肘部的功率。这些结果支持躯干运动作为发展肘部扭矩和球速的关键组成部分的重要性。因此，本研究对棒球投手具有实际意义，有助于他们在降低受伤风险的同时提高表现。
