[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to provide information regarding the knowledge of
mechanical principles related to the load applied to the shoulder and elbow during the
pitching motion. [Subjects and Methods] The three-dimensional kinematics of body segments
were measured in 19 amateur baseball players with a VICON motion capture system. The
correlation between maximum shoulder internal torque, maximum elbow varus torque, and
simultaneous kinematic parameters including joint angular acceleration and ball
acceleration was investigated. [Results] Peak shoulder internal rotation torque and elbow
varus torque averaged 31 Nm and 26 Nm, respectively. Ball acceleration had the strongest
influence on shoulder internal rotational torque (standardized partial regression
coefficient 0.69). During previous maximum external rotation (pre-MER), the main cause
parameter of elbow varus torque was shoulder horizontal adduction velocity (r=0.672). On
the other hand, after MER (post-MER), the main cause was ball acceleration (r=0.745).
[Conclusion] Results of our study suggest that one of the main mechanical principles of
joint load during the baseball pitching motion may be the ‘inertia’ yielded on the segment
distal to the certain joint.
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.