Publications by authors named "Adam Nebel"
Background: Previous biomechanical analyses of baseball pitching report similar kinematics between pitch types. However, prior studies were conducted in a controlled laboratory environment.
Purpose/hypothesis: This study aimed to compare in-game trunk and upper extremity kinematics between fastballs, breaking balls, and changeups to determine whether there are kinematic differences that may affect performance as well as to provide new insights into potential risk factors for injury.
Article Synopsis
- More than half of youth baseball pitchers experience throwing-related pain, prompting an investigation into the role of elbow flexion during pitching.
- The study assessed 38 pitchers, comparing those with throwing-arm pain to matched pain-free pitchers regarding their elbow flexion throughout a pitch cycle.
- Results showed no significant differences in elbow flexion or peak elbow flexion between the two groups, contradicting previous studies that linked elbow pain to differences in pitching mechanics.
Background: The current standard for motion capture data collection in baseball biomechanics is marker-based optical motion capture. Recent advancement in markerless motion capture capabilities has greatly improved accessibility to in-game, high-precision motion capture data, but specific values may differ from markered systems, necessitating separate normative values. For future data comparison, reference data are needed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Increases in peak shoulder distraction force and peak elbow valgus torque may influence throwing-arm pain and injury risk in youth pitchers.
Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to determine whether shoulder distraction force and elbow valgus torque while accounting for anthropometrics and pitch velocity can predict the presence of pain in youth baseball pitchers. It was hypothesized that throwing-arm pain could be predicted using the concept of biomechanical efficiency, where a pitcher who is less efficient (having higher force or torque with the same pitch velocity) is more likely to experience pain.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how two pitching techniques, "tall and fall" and "drop and drive," affect pitch velocity and elbow stress in college baseball pitchers.
- It involves 64 collegiate pitchers and utilizes motion capture data to analyze how body movements during pitching influence performance metrics.
- Results show that the "tall and fall" method is associated with increased pitch velocity and specific dynamics of body center of mass displacement, suggesting its potential advantages over "drop and drive."
Background: Increased shoulder distraction force during a baseball pitch may make a pitcher susceptible to rotator cuff or glenohumeral labral injuries. A precursor to a pitching injury may be pain experienced in the throwing arm.
Purpose: To (1) compare peak shoulder distraction (PSD) forces in youth baseball pitchers with and without upper extremity pain when throwing a fastball and (2) assess if PSD forces across trials differ between pain and pain-free groups.