Sports Medicine & Movement Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA.
Driveline Baseball, Kent, Washington, USA.
Am J Sports Med. 2022 Sep;50(11):3083-3089. doi: 10.1177/03635465221114476. Epub 2022 Aug 15.
The softball pitch is a full-body motion, where efficient proximal to distal energy flow through the kinetic chain is said to reduce stress at the upper extremity. Although altered trunk kinematic parameters are associated with upper extremity pain in softball pitchers, further research is needed to determine whether differences exist in proximal energy flow between softball pitchers with and without pain.
HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: To examine pelvis and trunk energy flow during the acceleration phase of the pitch in collegiate softball pitchers with and without upper extremity pain. It was hypothesized that those with upper extremity pain would have less energy flowing into the proximal ends of the pelvis and trunk as well as less energy flowing out of the distal ends of the pelvis and trunk during the acceleration phase when compared with pitchers who did not have upper extremity pain.
Descriptive laboratory study.
A total of 54 female National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I softball pitchers (age, 20.2 ± 2.0 years; height, 173.5 ± 6.9 cm; weight, 78.5 ± 11.5 kg) were assigned to pain (n = 17) and pain-free (n = 38) groups. Participants pitched 3 maximal effort rise-balls for a strike, and the average of the 3 trials was used for analysis. Kinematic data were collected at 100 Hz using an electromagnetic tracking system. A segment power analysis was performed to quantify energy flow for the pelvis and trunk. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare pelvis and trunk energy flow during the acceleration phase of the pitch as well as pitch velocity between collegiate softball pitchers with and without upper extremity pain.
No significant differences were found between pelvis and trunk energy flow during the acceleration phase or pitch velocity between collegiate softball pitchers with and without upper extremity pain (all values >.057).
Previous research determined that kinematic parameters differ between collegiate pitchers with and without upper extremity pain. However, the current study found no difference in pelvis and trunk energy flow or pitch velocity. Although altered kinematics in collegiate pitchers with upper extremity pain may serve as compensation patterns to maintain pitch velocity and proximal energy flow, future research is needed to confirm this postulation.
The lack of energy flow differences between upper extremity pain groups suggests that pitchers may adapt their biomechanics to maintain trunk and pelvis energy flow patterns. Coaches, athletes, and clinicians should know that movement adaptations can allow for maintained performance levels but may result in the presence of pain that may manifest in other deleterious and injury-susceptible biomechanics.
垒球投球是一种全身运动，据说通过动力链的近端到远端的有效能量流动可以减少上肢的压力。虽然改变躯干运动学参数与垒球投手中上肢疼痛有关，但需要进一步研究以确定疼痛和无疼痛的垒球投手中近端能量流是否存在差异。
假设/目的：检查大学生垒球投手中有无上肢疼痛的运动员在投球加速阶段骨盆和躯干的能量流动。假设那些有上肢疼痛的人在加速阶段，骨盆和躯干的近端的能量流动会减少，骨盆和躯干的远端的能量流动也会减少，与没有上肢疼痛的投手相比。
描述性实验室研究。
共有 54 名美国大学生体育协会一级垒球女投手（年龄 20.2 ± 2.0 岁；身高 173.5 ± 6.9cm；体重 78.5 ± 11.5kg）被分为疼痛组（n = 17）和无疼痛组（n = 38）。参与者投出 3 个最大努力的上升球，取 3 个球的平均值进行分析。使用电磁跟踪系统以 100Hz 的频率采集运动学数据。进行节段功率分析以量化骨盆和躯干的能量流动。使用曼-惠特尼 U 检验比较有和无上肢疼痛的大学生垒球投手中骨盆和躯干在投球加速阶段的能量流动以及投球速度。
有无上肢疼痛的大学生垒球投手中，在投球加速阶段骨盆和躯干的能量流动或投球速度无显著差异（所有 P 值均>.057）。
先前的研究确定了有无上肢疼痛的大学生投手中运动学参数不同。然而，本研究发现骨盆和躯干能量流动或投球速度无差异。尽管有上肢疼痛的大学生投手中的运动学改变可能是为了保持投球速度和近端能量流动而做出的补偿模式，但需要进一步研究来证实这一假说。
上肢疼痛组之间能量流动无差异表明，投手可能会调整他们的生物力学以保持躯干和骨盆的能量流动模式。教练、运动员和临床医生应该知道，运动适应可以保持运动水平，但可能会导致疼痛的出现，而疼痛可能表现为其他有害和易受伤的生物力学。
