The Effects Of Weighted Loads On Pitching Mechanics In Division 1 Pitchers

Document Type

Conference Presentation

Department

Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Department

Conference Title

American College of Sports Medicine - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise conference

Organization

American College of Sports Medicine

Location

Virtual

Date of Presentation

8-1-2021

Journal Publication

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

ISSN

0195-9131

DOI

10.1249/01.mss.0000760812.91086.88

Volume

53

Issue

8S

First Page

146

Abstract

An effective pitcher is both consistent and powerful; appropriate training optimizes these characteristics. In baseball, the overload principle is commonly employed with the use of cable devices and weighted balls. While this may elicit increases in velocity, the alteration of throwing mechanics is not well understood. PURPOSE: To evaluate acute performance and biomechanical responses to applied resistance in pitching. METHODS: 10 Division 1 collegiate baseball pitchers were tested using Proteus technology (Proteus Motion, USA). After a standardized warm-up, they completed 5 sets of 5 pitches against varying electromagnetic loads. Each successive set increased in resistance by 1 lb, ranging from 1 to 5 lbs. Repeated measures ANOVA examined the effect of load on throwing power (w), acceleration (m/s2), explosiveness (w/s), velocity (m/s2), deceleration (m/s2), endurance (score of power maintenance in serial repetitions), range of motion in three-dimensional space, and consistency (score of how well throw mechanics were replicated across all repetitions in a set). Power, acceleration, explosiveness, velocity, and deceleration were considered acute performance metrics. Endurance, range of motion, and consistency were considered biomechanical responses to increased load. Significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Pitchers were 73.0 ± 2.8 inches tall, were mostly right-handed (88%), and had a fastball velocity of 84.6 ± 3.9 mph. Repeated measures ANOVA detected differences in power (F = 306.443; p < 0.001), acceleration (F = 103.327; p < 0.001), explosiveness (F = 92.782; p < 0.001), velocity (F = 8.186; p < 0.001), and deceleration (F = 129.861; p < 0.001) in response to incremental load changes. However, increasing load did not affect consistency (F = 1.023; p = 0.415), endurance (F = 1.914, p = 0.111), or range of motion (F = 2.840, p = 0.100). CONCLUSIONS: Adjustments in load produced acute performance changes in pitching power, acceleration, explosiveness, velocity, and deceleration without influencing consistency, endurance, or range of motion. These findings provide preliminary evidence that pitch training against three-dimensional isotonic resistance may enhance throw velocity without significant compromise to kinematic parameters.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS