Elbow stress in youth softball windmill pitchers: predictors of increased torque

• DOI: 10.15406/mojsm.2023.06.00130
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02T09:36:08Z
• Authors: James L Moeller; Alexander Swantek; Alexander Ziedas; Ahmad Bazzi; Matthew Gasparro; Eric C Makhni
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine

Purpose: To assess torque at the elbow in underhand throwing motion utilizing wearable sensor technology and discover predictors of medial toque young female softball pitchers. Methods: Female players 12 to 18 years old whose primary position was pitcher actively participating sport were studied. Players experiencing arm pain, lower extremity injury hindering pitching motion, or prior surgery excluded. Age, handedness, height, weight, dimensions measured recorded. Pitchers threw 15 pitches, max effort from 43 feet given 30 60 second rest between pitches. A placed inside an athletic compression sleeve which recorded data. Measurements included (Newton-meters; NM), speed (peak rotational velocity forearm; rotations per minute; RPM), slot (forearm angle relation ground release; degrees), shoulder rotation (maximum forearm during o’clock phase; degrees). Peak ball miles hour (MPH) by a radar gun. Results: Twenty females mean age 15.2 (range, 12.6-16.9 years) achieved average stress 35.5 NM (14-78 NM). Average 583.8 RPM (3502.8 deg/sec) ranged 33-56 mph with 44.1 mph. Multivariate analysis demonstrated significantly associated increasing (P-value 0.00003), length 0.000006); however, increased decreased 0.00007). Conclusions: There significant across Elbow total length; torque.