Radio-ulnar joint supinates around ball release during baseball fastball pitching

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine whether a supination phase of the forearm exists around ball release (BRL), and, if present, to determine whether this supination is explained by a reaction force or by the body configuration required for this task. A 16-camera motion analysis system with a sampling frequency of 1,000 Hz recorded 20 healthy male semi-professional pitchers pitching from an indoor pitching mound. A short supination phase around BRL was confirmed for all participants in the current study. Correlation analyses revealed that the supination angle at BRL had significant relationships with several measurements of shoulder movement kinematics. Mechanical work analysis of the forearm’s longitudinal axis revealed several variations in joint power curve and various patterns of mechanical work among the participants, suggesting that a reaction force originating from accelerating a ball might not be the main cause of supination. The raw data also were down-sampled to a sampling frequency of 250 Hz, to match previous studies and to investigate the discrepancy among previous studies concerning the existence of the supination phase. The experience of participants and methodological differences, such as the definition of BRL and the time-normalisation technique, influenced whether the supination phase was observed.

Keywords:

• Throwing
• pronation
• forearm
• wrist
• accuracy

Acknowledgements

We would like to appreciate all pitchers for participating this research and also appreciate coaches and strength and conditioning staff for arranging and cooperating this research. We would also like to appreciate Ms Tsubasa Sugimoto, Dr Yoichi Katsumata, Mr Yuki Shiga, Mr Masahiro Sato, Dr Kousuke Nakazato, and Ms Asahi Yamada for their assistance with data collection.