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Softball Pitching Biomechanics. Video. Sports Medicine Nightmare. Year-round seasons Multiple teams/sports Long practices (6-8 hours Sat & Sun) Lots of reps Lots of overuse injuries at all positions Underserved population. Overhand Throwing. Windmill Pitching.
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Year-round seasons • Multiple teams/sports • Long practices (6-8 hours Sat & Sun) • Lots of reps • Lots of overuse injuries at all positions • Underserved population
2 million 12-18 year old girls played fast pitch softball in the U.S. in 2003 • 60 ft bases and 200 ft fences • Flat “mound” with 35-43 ft pitching distance • Pitchers can throw > 6 games in a weekend tournament • Pitch counts > 500 documented in 3-day span
Injury Literature • 50% of pitchers at 1989 College World Series had a time-loss injury • 80% of injuries were to the upper extremity • Stress fractures, radial neuropathy, biceps/labrum complex and rotator cuff pathology Loosli et al, AJSM, 1992
Injury Literature • 1995 NATA Injury Surveillance on HS baseball/softball players • Percentage of injuries requiring surgery were equal in football and softball players • Percentage of baseball players requiring surgery was less Powell et al, JAT, 1999
Injury Literature • 73% of collegiate pitchers surveyed were injured during the 2001-2002 season • Web-based survey of 181 Division I, II and III pitchers • 131 injuries were reported (36 acute & 92 chronic/overuse) • 80/131 were directly pitching related (33 shoulder &16 low back) Hill et al, JSCR, 2004
Injury Literature • 33% of injuries to the upper extremity according to the NCAA Injury Surveillance System from 1988-2004 • Ankle sprains, knee internal derangements, sliding injuries and overuse shoulder and low back injuries were most common • Preseason practice injuries 2X that of in-season and 1.6 X more injuries in games that practice Marshall et al, JAT, 2007
Injury Literature • 14 youth (14-18 yrs) windmill pitchers evaluated for strength and fatigue changes across 2- and 3-day tournaments • Pitchers asked for VAS (1-10) for shoulder fatigue and pain at the beginning and end of each tournament day • Shoulder abduction, flexion, ER, IR and elbow flexion and extension strength measurements taken • Significant increases in VAS for fatigue and pain over the course of a day and the tournament • Significant strength loss in all motions tested over the course of a day and the tournament Skillington et al, AJSM, 2017
Biomechanics Literature • Very few published studies on kinematics and kinetics in windmill pitching • 8 college pitchers • 70-98%BW distraction at elbow and shoulder joints • Concluded that biceps/labrum complex at risk Barrentine et al, JOSPT, 1998
Ranges of Motion *p ≤ 0.05
Kinematics Stride length: 89/62 %hgt Upper trunk : 779/877°/sec Lower trunk : 616/519°/sec Elbow flex : 1194/702°/sec Windmilling : 2190/1237°/s Ball speed:60/54 mph
Kinetics Elbow Distraction Force ~61/44 %BW Elbow Valgus Torque ~159/58 Nm Elbow Extension Torque ~104/75 Nm Shoulder Distraction Force ~80/89 %BW
Braking GRF 115 ±46%BW
Braking GRF 115 ±46%BW Vertical GRF 139 ±43%BW
Summary Underserved, overworked, often injured Loads are high Time is short Train accordingly REST and RECOVERY
Reducing Stress on the ShoulderHip Angle at ReleaseFollow through (short arm)
4 Keys to Pitching SpeedBall SpinArm SpeedExplosive Leg DriveResistance on Front Side
Softball Pitch Counts 10U: 60 pitches in a workout/game and 1 day rest after 12U: 70 pitches in a workout/game and 1 day rest after 14U: 80 pitches in a workout/game and 1 day rest after 16U: 90 pitches in a workout/game and 1 day rest after 18U: 100 pitches in a workout/game and 1 day rest after