Pelvic rotation torque during fast-pitch softball hitting under three ball height conditions.

J Appl Biomech

Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Published: August 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relevance of hip joint angles to the production of the pelvic rotation torque in fast-pitch softball hitting and to examine the effect of ball height on this production. Thirteen advanced female softball players hit stationary balls at three different heights: high, middle, and low. The pelvic rotation torque, defined as the torque acting on the pelvis through the hip joints about the pelvic superior-inferior axis, was determined from the kinematic and force plate data using inverse dynamics. Irrespective of the ball heights, the rear hip extension, rear hip external rotation, front hip adduction, and front hip flexion torques contributed to the production of pelvic rotation torque. Although the contributions of the adduction and external rotation torques at each hip joint were significantly different among the ball heights, the contributions of the front and rear hip joint torques were similar among the three ball heights owing to cancelation of the two torque components. The timings of the peaks of the hip joint torque components were significantly different, suggesting that softball hitters may need to adjust the timings of the torque exertions fairly precisely to rotate the upper body effectively.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jab.2013-0304DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

pelvic rotation
16
rotation torque
16
hip joint
16
ball heights
12
rear hip
12
hip
9
torque
8
torque fast-pitch
8
fast-pitch softball
8
softball hitting
8

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!