Consistent Hand Dynamics Are Achieved by Controlling Variabilities Among Joint Movements During Fastball Pitching

This study aimed to determine whether covariations among joint movements are utilized to stabilize hand orientation and movement and to determine which of the upper or lower extremities make effective use of the covariation. Joint angles during pitching were measured in 12 skilled baseball pitchers,...

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Main Authors: Tomoyuki Matsuo, Tsutomu Jinji, Daisaku Hirayama, Daiki Nasu, Yoichi Katsumata, Yoshitaka Morishita
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2020.579377/full
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author Tomoyuki Matsuo
Tsutomu Jinji
Daisaku Hirayama
Daiki Nasu
Yoichi Katsumata
Yoshitaka Morishita
author_facet Tomoyuki Matsuo
Tsutomu Jinji
Daisaku Hirayama
Daiki Nasu
Yoichi Katsumata
Yoshitaka Morishita
author_sort Tomoyuki Matsuo
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to determine whether covariations among joint movements are utilized to stabilize hand orientation and movement and to determine which of the upper or lower extremities make effective use of the covariation. Joint angles during pitching were measured in 12 skilled baseball pitchers, using a motion capture system. The joint angles in 10 successful trials were used for the reconstructed motions. The reconstructed motion in the first condition was the same as for the measured motion. In the second condition, the reconstructed motion was generated with joint angles that were pseudo-randomly selected to artificially break off covariation in the measured joint-angle combination. In the third and fourth conditions, the reconstructed motions were generated with the same joint-angle combinations as the measured angles in the throwing arm and the stride leg, respectively, but pseudo-randomly selected in the other joint angles. Ten reconstructed motions were generated for each condition. Standard deviations (SDs) of hand orientation and movement direction were calculated and compared among the conditions. All SDs for the first condition were the smallest among the conditions, indicating that the movements in the measured condition used the covariation in joint angles to make the hand movement stable. The results also illustrated that some SDs in the fourth condition were smaller than those in the third condition, suggesting that the lower extremity made effective use of the covariation. These results imply that it is necessary not only to reduce variability in each joint but also to regulate joint movements to stabilize hand orientation and movement.
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spelling doaj.art-077e0a93baae48f79151f4cf26f5c3452022-12-22T03:01:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672020-11-01210.3389/fspor.2020.579377579377Consistent Hand Dynamics Are Achieved by Controlling Variabilities Among Joint Movements During Fastball PitchingTomoyuki Matsuo0Tsutomu Jinji1Daisaku Hirayama2Daiki Nasu3Yoichi Katsumata4Yoshitaka Morishita5Department of Health and Sport Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Toyonaka, JapanFaculty of Human Development, Kokugakuin University, Tokyo, JapanSports R&D Core, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, JapanSports Brain Science Project, NTT Communication Science Laboratories, Nippon Telegraph, and Telephone Corporation, Atsugi, JapanFaculty of Applied Biosciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, JapanThis study aimed to determine whether covariations among joint movements are utilized to stabilize hand orientation and movement and to determine which of the upper or lower extremities make effective use of the covariation. Joint angles during pitching were measured in 12 skilled baseball pitchers, using a motion capture system. The joint angles in 10 successful trials were used for the reconstructed motions. The reconstructed motion in the first condition was the same as for the measured motion. In the second condition, the reconstructed motion was generated with joint angles that were pseudo-randomly selected to artificially break off covariation in the measured joint-angle combination. In the third and fourth conditions, the reconstructed motions were generated with the same joint-angle combinations as the measured angles in the throwing arm and the stride leg, respectively, but pseudo-randomly selected in the other joint angles. Ten reconstructed motions were generated for each condition. Standard deviations (SDs) of hand orientation and movement direction were calculated and compared among the conditions. All SDs for the first condition were the smallest among the conditions, indicating that the movements in the measured condition used the covariation in joint angles to make the hand movement stable. The results also illustrated that some SDs in the fourth condition were smaller than those in the third condition, suggesting that the lower extremity made effective use of the covariation. These results imply that it is necessary not only to reduce variability in each joint but also to regulate joint movements to stabilize hand orientation and movement.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2020.579377/fullmovement variabilitycovariationredundancydirect kinematicsrandomizationbaseball
spellingShingle Tomoyuki Matsuo
Tsutomu Jinji
Daisaku Hirayama
Daiki Nasu
Yoichi Katsumata
Yoshitaka Morishita
Consistent Hand Dynamics Are Achieved by Controlling Variabilities Among Joint Movements During Fastball Pitching
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
movement variability
covariation
redundancy
direct kinematics
randomization
baseball
title Consistent Hand Dynamics Are Achieved by Controlling Variabilities Among Joint Movements During Fastball Pitching
title_full Consistent Hand Dynamics Are Achieved by Controlling Variabilities Among Joint Movements During Fastball Pitching
title_fullStr Consistent Hand Dynamics Are Achieved by Controlling Variabilities Among Joint Movements During Fastball Pitching
title_full_unstemmed Consistent Hand Dynamics Are Achieved by Controlling Variabilities Among Joint Movements During Fastball Pitching
title_short Consistent Hand Dynamics Are Achieved by Controlling Variabilities Among Joint Movements During Fastball Pitching
title_sort consistent hand dynamics are achieved by controlling variabilities among joint movements during fastball pitching
topic movement variability
covariation
redundancy
direct kinematics
randomization
baseball
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2020.579377/full
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