BACKGROUND: Trunk muscle endurance training is used by most high school baseball or softball coaches. However, evidence demonstrating a relationship between trunk muscle endurance and batting performance is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to establish a relationship between trunk muscle endurance and bat swing velocity in a high school baseball team. METHOD: Sixty-one high school (15-18 years old) baseball players, taken from the same team, with 6.5 ± 1.3 years of training experience, participated in the following tests: static trunk flexion/extension endurance tests, dynamic trunk flexion/extension endurance tests and a maximum bat swing velocity test. RESULTS: Bat swing velocity showed significant low-to-moderate negative correlations with static trunk flexor endurance (P = 0.001, r = −0.404), dynamic trunk flexor endurance (P = 0.016, r = −0.308) and the ratio of static flexor/extensor endurance (P = 0.021, r = −0.298). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the concept that better trunk flexor endurance might not benefit batting performance. Trunk flexor endurance training should not be over-emphasized when the targeted training goal is to enhance bat swing velocity.
Abstract:The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of hip thrust (HT) training on the strength and power performance of lower extremities. In total, 20 male collegiate baseball players participated in this study and were divided into a HT training group (HTT) and a control group (CON). Participants in the HTT group added HTT movements to a regular baseball training regimen (3 times per week for 8 weeks), whereas participants in the CON group only performed the regular baseball training regimen. Before and after the training sessions, strength performance was assessed via tests of squat strength and 3 repetition maximum (3RM) HT strength; power performance was assessed via vertical jump height, standing long jump distance, and 30-m sprint time. The results indicated significant improvement in squat strength (31% ± 15%) and 3RM HT strength (36% ± 16%) (P < 0.05), but not in vertical jump height, standing long jump distance, and 30-m sprint time. Furthermore, the improvement in squat strength highly correlated with 3RM HT strength (r = 0.83, P < 0.05). In conclusion, HTT plays a role in developing squat strength but does not appear to improve power performance.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.