Context: Throwing a baseball is a dynamic and violent act that places large magnitudes of stress on the shoulder and elbow. Specific injuries at the elbow and glenohumeral joints have been linked to several kinetic variables throughout the throwing motion. However, very little research has directly examined the relationship between these kinetic variables and ball velocity. Objective: To examine the correlation of peak ball velocity with elbow-valgus torque, shoulder external-rotation torque, and shoulder-distraction force in a group of collegiate baseball pitchers. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Motion-analysis laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Sixty-seven asymptomatic National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I baseball pitchers (age = 19.5 ± 1.2 years, height = 186.2 ± 5.7 cm, mass = 86.7 ± 7.0 kg; 48 right handed, 19 left handed). Main Outcome Measure(s): We measured peak ball velocity using a radar gun and shoulder and elbow kinetics of the throwing arm using 8 electronically synchronized, high-speed digital cameras. We placed 26 reflective markers on anatomical landmarks of each participant to track 3-dimensional coordinate data. The average data from the 3 highest-velocity fastballs thrown for strikes were used for data analysis. We calculated a Pearson correlation coefficient to determine the associations between ball velocity and peak elbow-valgus torque, shoulder-distraction force, and shoulder external-rotation torque (P < .05). Results: A weak positive correlation was found between ball velocity and shoulder-distraction force (r = 0.257; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.02, 0.47; r2 = 0.066; P = .018). However, no significant correlations were noted between ball velocity and elbow-valgus torque (r = 0.199; 95% CI = ?0.043, 0.419; r2 = 0.040; P = .053) or shoulder external-rotation torque (r = 0.097; 95% CI = ?0.147, 0.329; r2 = 0.009; P = .217). Conclusions: Although a weak positive correlation was present between ball velocity and shoulder-distraction force, no significant association was seen between ball velocity and elbow-valgus torque or shoulder external-rotation torque. Therefore, other factors, such as improper pitching mechanics, may contribute more to increases in joint kinetics than peak ball velocity.
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机译：背景：投掷棒球是一种充满活力的暴力行为，在肩膀和肘部施加了很大的压力。在整个投掷动作中，肘部和盂肱关节的特殊损伤与一些动力学变量有关。但是，很少有研究直接检查这些动力学变量与球速度之间的关系。目的：研究一组大学棒球投手的峰值球速度与肘-外翻扭矩，肩部外旋扭矩和肩部牵引力的相关性。设计：横断面研究。地点：运动分析实验室。患者或其他参与者：67名无症状的美国国家大学体育协会第一分部棒球投手（年龄= 19.5±1.2岁，身高= 186.2±5.7 cm，体重= 86.7±7.0 kg;右手48位，左手19位）。主要指标：我们使用8支电子同步高速数码相机，使用雷达枪和投掷臂的肩膀和肘部动力学测量了峰值球速度。我们在每个参与者的解剖界标上放置了26个反射标记，以跟踪3维坐标数据。来自3个最高速度快球投掷罢工的平均数据用于数据分析。我们计算了皮尔逊相关系数，以确定球速度与峰值肘部-外翻扭矩，肩部牵引力和肩部外部旋转扭矩之间的关联（P <.05）。结果：发现球速度与肩部牵引力之间呈弱正相关（r = 0.257; 95％置信区间[CI] = 0.02、0.47; r2 = 0.066; P = .018）。但是，在球的速度和肘外翻扭矩之间（r = 0.199; 95％CI = 0.043，0.419; r2 = 0.040; P = .053）或肩部外旋扭矩（r = 0.097; r = 0.097; r = 0.097; P = 0.053）没有显着相关性。 95％CI = 0.147，0.329; r2 = 0.009; P = 0.217）。结论：尽管球速与肩部牵引力之间呈弱正相关，但在球速与肘-外翻扭矩或肩部外旋扭矩之间没有显着相关性。因此，其他因素（例如不正确的投球机制）可能比峰值球速度更有助于关节动力学的提高。
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