Download PDF
Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Sports Med Int Open 2022; 6(01): E47-E52
DOI: 10.1055/a-1854-1007
Orthopedics & Biomechanics

Neuromechanical Integration of Pelvic-Thoracic Rotation among Youth Baseball Throwers

Authors

  • Eric Winters

    1   Physical Education, Denison University, Granville, United States

  • Steven Doty

    2   Physics, Denison University, Granville, United States

  • Melanie Lott

    2   Physics, Denison University, Granville, United States

  • James Baker

    3   Sports Medicine and Nutrition , University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
Further Information
Also available at
  Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The kinetic sequencing involved in the overhead throw anticipates an orchestration of body movement in which the more proximal segments of the body initiate movement prior to the more distal segment. This investigation explored neuromuscular and kinematic characteristics associated with one aspect of this kinetic sequencing, pelvic-to-thoracic rotation. Neuromuscular activation was recorded using surface electromyography and kinematic data was acquired using 3D videography. Specific objectives included 1) to describe the maximum angulation between the pelvic and thoracic body segments (Xmax angle), 2) to test the hypothesis that glove-side external oblique peak neuromuscular activation (GEOPA) occurs before Xmax angle, 3) to test the hypothesis that throwing-side external oblique peak neuromuscular activation (TEOPA) occurs following Xmax angle. Results show the mean Xmax angle to be 45.96 degrees (±10.83). The time of mean GEOPA (2.3653 sec±0.9094) occurred following the time of mean Xmax angle (2.2793 sec,±0.9026, p<0.01), thus refuting the first hypothesis. The time of mean TEOPA (2.3658 sec,±0.8978) occurred following the time of mean Xmax angle (2.2793 sec,±0.9026, p<0.01), thus confirming the second hypothesis. Results suggest that youth baseball participants may not adequately utilize the core of the body to fully benefit from the optimal kinetic sequencing postulated within the literature.

Key word

Throwing - Neuromechanical - Thoracic Rotation - Kinetic Chain - Neuromuscular - baseball


Publication History

Received: 07 November 2021
Received: 05 May 2022

Accepted: 10 May 2022

Article published online:
29 July 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany