There is an alarming national trend among young baseball players.
Parents are bringing their children into the sports-medicine clinic and
inquiring about procedures such as Tommy John surgery. This is
unacceptable.
Injuries
in younger pitchers are much different than those observed in
professional pitchers. This observation led us to believe that the
pitching mechanics are also likely to be different. The Biomechanics
Research Laboratory has published several papers on the pitching
mechanics of Little Leaguers, and in conjunction with our professional
pitching database, we were able to compare throwing patterns of
developing young pitchers to successful mature pitchers. Although
significant differences do exist, there are many more similarities.
Comparative Speeds
Little
Leaguers only throw about 50-65 mph fastballs. However, given the
shorter distance from home plate to the pitcher's mound, this
translates into a professional-pitch-velocity equivalent of 80-95 mph
to the batter. Our research has also shown that Little League pitchers
actually execute the pitch sequence in a similar manner, with major
differences from the pros being partly attributed to height, weight,
and physical strength.
Why are the injuries patterns so
different? This is likely due to the physical strength and the skeletal
maturity of the athletes. As we mature, the tissues become more rigid
and able to withstand higher forces. Young players (as early as 13
years old) need to have proper techniques taught to them. These kids
are already developing pitching mechanics that they will carry into
adolescence and adulthood. Also, the unique aspects of the developing
skeleton make their bodies more susceptible to a variety of injuries
not commonly seen in adult pitchers.
One such injury is Little
League elbow, in which the force applied to the upper arm during the
pitch could play a role in these athletes during puberty and in the
increase in injuries seen in the throwing arms of professional
pitchers. Although these injuries may be due to the musculoskeletal
changes occurring during growth, they may also be, at least in part,
due to pitching techniques. Since the trunk can be utilized to create
enormous power and increased ball speed, it may be that the differences
we observed in trunk motions between the youth and professional
baseball pitchers also may explain the differences in patterns of
injuries between these two groups.
Trunk Rotation - (Rotational Pitching Mechanics)
The
Steadman-Hawkins team investigated the rotation of the trunk during the
pitching motion between youth and professional pitchers. The peak
rotational velocities of both the upper trunk and pelvis were greater
in youth baseball pitchers than in professional pitchers. Youth
baseball pitchers control their trunk motion in a less efficient way
than elite pitchers. Peak pelvis-rotation velocity occurred near the
time of stride-foot contact in the professionals, while it occurred
much later in the youth pitchers. Proper timing of pelvis and upper
trunk rotation are necessary to effectively transfer energy from the
trunk to the throwing arm. Therefore, increased trunk rotation speed
may be a compensation for improper timing of segment rotations or
insufficient muscle strength in youth pitchers. Improper energy
transfer from the trunk to the upper extremity may lead to the
increased shoulder internal rotation and elbow-extension velocities in
youth pitchers compared to the professionals.
Easier to Correct Mechanics at a Young Age
Understanding
injury mechanisms in this group is fundamentally important, but what we
really want to do is utilize this information to make evidence-based
recommendations for youth-league coaches about safe pitching techniques
and limits, a true grass roots effort to reduce injuries in these kids.
We now believe that many injuries experienced by the professional
pitcher may be related to pitching mechanics that are promoted at a
young age. And it is much easier to teach correct mechanics to a young
pitcher than attempt to retrain a seasoned professional pitcher.
Dr. Torry is the Director of the
Biomechanics Research Laboratory at the Steadman-Hawkins Research
Foundation in Vail, Colorado. Dr. Shelborne is Senior Staff Scientist.
The article below was adapted with permission from Dr. Torry, Dr.
Shelburne, and the Steadman-Hawkins Research Foundation.