An Exploratory Investigation Evaluating the Impact of Fatigue-Induced Stride Length Compensations on Ankle Biomechanics among Skilled Baseball Pitchers
Altered propulsive and bracing ground reaction forces from lower-body fatigue significantly impact stride length to increase weakness in dynamic elbow stabilizers and risk of medial elbow injury in baseball pitchers. This work investigated altered stride length on three-dimensional ankle joint dynam...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/4/986 |
| _version_ | 1797604644757700608 |
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| author | Ryan L. Crotin Dan K. Ramsey |
| author_facet | Ryan L. Crotin Dan K. Ramsey |
| author_sort | Ryan L. Crotin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Altered propulsive and bracing ground reaction forces from lower-body fatigue significantly impact stride length to increase weakness in dynamic elbow stabilizers and risk of medial elbow injury in baseball pitchers. This work investigated altered stride length on three-dimensional ankle joint dynamics to illustrate fatigue-induced changes in ankle motion that can also be impacted by coaching errors. Nineteen pitchers (15 collegiate and 4 high school) were randomized in a crossover design study that encouraged fatigue by throwing two simulated 80-pitch games at ±25% of their desired stride length. An integrated motion-capture system with two force plates and radar gun tracked each throw. Retrospective analysis using pairwise comparisons, including effect size calculations, were undertaken to identify differences in ankle dynamics between stride length conditions for both the drive and stride leg. Longer strides were found to be more effective in drive ankle propulsion and stride-bracing mechanics. Conversely, shorter strides delayed bracing dynamics by demonstrating continued drive ankle plantar flexion moments after stride-foot contact to extend pitchers’ time in propulsion (<i>p</i> < 0.001, d > 0.8). Additionally, heightened braking effects were seen during the acceleration phase of throwing with greater stride knee extension power when pitching with shorter strides (<i>p</i> < 0.001, d > 0.8). The knowledge gained from this work offers new insight into compensatory stride length adaptation that impacts systemic and throwing arm-specific fatigue to maintain ball velocity, as bilateral ankle joint dynamics can be significantly affected in response to cumulative workload. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:49:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0dc391e85b0d4f96ab5c66ad3041d81c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:49:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-0dc391e85b0d4f96ab5c66ad3041d81c2023-11-17T20:06:29ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292023-04-0113498610.3390/life13040986An Exploratory Investigation Evaluating the Impact of Fatigue-Induced Stride Length Compensations on Ankle Biomechanics among Skilled Baseball PitchersRyan L. Crotin0Dan K. Ramsey1Human Performance Laboratories, Department of Kinesiology, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71270, USACenter for Doctoral Studies and Research, D’Youville University, Buffalo, NY 14260, USAAltered propulsive and bracing ground reaction forces from lower-body fatigue significantly impact stride length to increase weakness in dynamic elbow stabilizers and risk of medial elbow injury in baseball pitchers. This work investigated altered stride length on three-dimensional ankle joint dynamics to illustrate fatigue-induced changes in ankle motion that can also be impacted by coaching errors. Nineteen pitchers (15 collegiate and 4 high school) were randomized in a crossover design study that encouraged fatigue by throwing two simulated 80-pitch games at ±25% of their desired stride length. An integrated motion-capture system with two force plates and radar gun tracked each throw. Retrospective analysis using pairwise comparisons, including effect size calculations, were undertaken to identify differences in ankle dynamics between stride length conditions for both the drive and stride leg. Longer strides were found to be more effective in drive ankle propulsion and stride-bracing mechanics. Conversely, shorter strides delayed bracing dynamics by demonstrating continued drive ankle plantar flexion moments after stride-foot contact to extend pitchers’ time in propulsion (<i>p</i> < 0.001, d > 0.8). Additionally, heightened braking effects were seen during the acceleration phase of throwing with greater stride knee extension power when pitching with shorter strides (<i>p</i> < 0.001, d > 0.8). The knowledge gained from this work offers new insight into compensatory stride length adaptation that impacts systemic and throwing arm-specific fatigue to maintain ball velocity, as bilateral ankle joint dynamics can be significantly affected in response to cumulative workload.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/4/986throwingkinetic chaincompensationlower bodyfoot |
| spellingShingle | Ryan L. Crotin Dan K. Ramsey An Exploratory Investigation Evaluating the Impact of Fatigue-Induced Stride Length Compensations on Ankle Biomechanics among Skilled Baseball Pitchers Life throwing kinetic chain compensation lower body foot |
| title | An Exploratory Investigation Evaluating the Impact of Fatigue-Induced Stride Length Compensations on Ankle Biomechanics among Skilled Baseball Pitchers |
| title_full | An Exploratory Investigation Evaluating the Impact of Fatigue-Induced Stride Length Compensations on Ankle Biomechanics among Skilled Baseball Pitchers |
| title_fullStr | An Exploratory Investigation Evaluating the Impact of Fatigue-Induced Stride Length Compensations on Ankle Biomechanics among Skilled Baseball Pitchers |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Exploratory Investigation Evaluating the Impact of Fatigue-Induced Stride Length Compensations on Ankle Biomechanics among Skilled Baseball Pitchers |
| title_short | An Exploratory Investigation Evaluating the Impact of Fatigue-Induced Stride Length Compensations on Ankle Biomechanics among Skilled Baseball Pitchers |
| title_sort | exploratory investigation evaluating the impact of fatigue induced stride length compensations on ankle biomechanics among skilled baseball pitchers |
| topic | throwing kinetic chain compensation lower body foot |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/4/986 |
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