Comparison of push-off forces during softball pitching with other dynamic movement
Presenter Type
UNO Graduate Student (Masters)
Major/Field of Study
Biomechanics
Advisor Information
Brian A. Knarr
Location
CEC RM #201/205/209
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
22-3-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
22-3-2024 10:15 AM
Abstract
Introduction:
Ground reaction forces (GRFs) are important in pitching because the muscles of the lower extremity and trunk are larger than those in the upper extremity, and the only external contact a pitcher has is between the feet and the ground. To understand pitching mechanics, GRFs give us an idea of how pitchers generate energy from the ground. To our knowledge, few research studies report the GRFs at the push-off leg. The purpose of this study is to describe the characteristics of GRFs during softball and to compare GRFs at the push-off leg during softball pitching with GRFs in other sports movements. It is hypothesized that GRFs in softball will show relatively lower peak vertical GRFs than those in other sports movements.
Methods:
Seven female collegiate softball pitchers (age: 20.9 ± 1.6 years, height: 1.72 ± 0.1 m, weight: 78.0 ± 4.6 kg) were recruited. Following the warm-up, the subjects were instructed to perform a pitching motion, and force data was collected during the motion on a custom-built softball mound with four force plates. Peak GRFs and force ratio (peak vertical GRF/ peak horizontal GRF) were calculated from the force data and force variables were normalized by body weight (%BW). The mean values of the pitchers were compared to those of other dynamic movements to assess the characteristics of the force products.
Results & Discussion:
Peak vertical and horizontal GRF at the push-off leg was 144.2 ± 18.2% BW and 34.9 ± 3.9%BW respectively. The force ratio was 24.6 ± 4.2%. Figure 1 displays the peak GRFs and force ratio in other push-off movements. The GRFs in softball push-off demonstrated similarity with baseball push-off movement due to the similarity of the movement. It implies that similar techniques, training strategies and research can be transferred between two sports. When compared to other explosive push-off movements, the GRFs in softball are relatively lower than others, and the vertical GRF is almost half of that in the vertical jump. However, it should be noted that softball pitching movement is repeated 80-120 times in a game, resulting in accumulated stress on the muscles. The results provide insight into the direction of a training program. Further research will be conducted on the force waveforms to examine how the GRFs are developed during softball pitching.
Comparison of push-off forces during softball pitching with other dynamic movement
CEC RM #201/205/209
Introduction:
Ground reaction forces (GRFs) are important in pitching because the muscles of the lower extremity and trunk are larger than those in the upper extremity, and the only external contact a pitcher has is between the feet and the ground. To understand pitching mechanics, GRFs give us an idea of how pitchers generate energy from the ground. To our knowledge, few research studies report the GRFs at the push-off leg. The purpose of this study is to describe the characteristics of GRFs during softball and to compare GRFs at the push-off leg during softball pitching with GRFs in other sports movements. It is hypothesized that GRFs in softball will show relatively lower peak vertical GRFs than those in other sports movements.
Methods:
Seven female collegiate softball pitchers (age: 20.9 ± 1.6 years, height: 1.72 ± 0.1 m, weight: 78.0 ± 4.6 kg) were recruited. Following the warm-up, the subjects were instructed to perform a pitching motion, and force data was collected during the motion on a custom-built softball mound with four force plates. Peak GRFs and force ratio (peak vertical GRF/ peak horizontal GRF) were calculated from the force data and force variables were normalized by body weight (%BW). The mean values of the pitchers were compared to those of other dynamic movements to assess the characteristics of the force products.
Results & Discussion:
Peak vertical and horizontal GRF at the push-off leg was 144.2 ± 18.2% BW and 34.9 ± 3.9%BW respectively. The force ratio was 24.6 ± 4.2%. Figure 1 displays the peak GRFs and force ratio in other push-off movements. The GRFs in softball push-off demonstrated similarity with baseball push-off movement due to the similarity of the movement. It implies that similar techniques, training strategies and research can be transferred between two sports. When compared to other explosive push-off movements, the GRFs in softball are relatively lower than others, and the vertical GRF is almost half of that in the vertical jump. However, it should be noted that softball pitching movement is repeated 80-120 times in a game, resulting in accumulated stress on the muscles. The results provide insight into the direction of a training program. Further research will be conducted on the force waveforms to examine how the GRFs are developed during softball pitching.