The effect of core muscles fatigue on upper extremity kinematic factors in overhead throwing: identification of the risk factors of common injuries in softball players

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Master in sports injuries and corrective exercise, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Associate professor in sports medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Assistant professor in Biomechanics, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Aim: Injuries caused by overuse in the upper limbs of softball players are very common. Regarding the importance of core muscles and the adverse effect of fatigue on these muscles on the kinetic chain, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of core muscle fatigue on upper limb kinematic factors in overhead throwing and to identify risk factors for common injuries in softball players.
Materials and Methods: 12 female softball players of the national league between the ages of 20 and 30 and a BMI of 18 to 25 were selected and performed the core stabilization muscle fatigue protocol between pre-test and post-test as one group. Upper limb kinematic data were collected from the foot contact to ball release using eight cameras with a sampling rate of 550 frames per second and the Qualis movement recording system. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and Willcoxon tests.
Results: The fatigue of core muscles results in significant increases in horizontal abduction angle at foot contact (P=0.01), and maximal external rotation angle of the shoulder (P=0.04), but there was no significant effect on shoulder abduction angle at foot contact and front face (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The present study showed that core muscle fatigue affects the kinematic risk factors of shoulder injuries and causes a change in the motion pattern of throwing in softball players.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abt, J. P., Smoliga, J. M., Brick, M. J., Jolly, J. T., Lephart, S. M., & Fu, F. H. (2007). “Relationship between cycling mechanics and core stability”. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 21(4), 1300-1304.
Bonza, J. E., Fields, S. K., Yard, E. E., & Dawn Comstock, R. (2009). “Shoulder injuries among United States high school athletes during the 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 school years”. Journal of athletic training, 44(1), 76-83.
Crockett, H. C., Gross, L. B., Wilk, K. E., Schwartz, M. L., Reed, J., OMara, J., ... & Andrews, J. R. (2002). “Osseous adaptation and range of motion at the glenohumeral joint in professional baseball pitchers”. The American journal of sports medicine, 30(1), 20-26.
Davidson, P. A., Elattrache, N. S., Jobe, C. M., & Jobe, F. W. (1995). “Rotator cuff and posterior-superior glenoid labrum injury associated with increased glenohumeral motion: a new site of impingement”. Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery, 4(5), 384-390.
Erickson, B. J., Sgori, T., Chalmers, P. N., Vignona, P., Lesniak, M., Bush-Joseph, C. A., ... & Romeo, A. A. (2016). “The impact of fatigue on baseball pitching mechanics in adolescent male pitchers”. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery, 32(5), 762-771.
Escamilla, R. F., Barrentine, S. W., Fleisig, G. S., Zheng, N., Takada, Y., Kingsley, D., & Andrews, J. R. (2007). “Pitching biomechanics as a pitcher approaches muscular fatigue during a simulated baseball game”. The American journal of sports medicine, 35(1), 23-33.
Fleisig, G. S., Barrentine, S. W., Escamilla, R. F., & Andrews, J. R. (1996). “Biomechanics of overhand throwing with implications for injuries”. Sports medicine, 21(6), 421-437.
Ghorbani R, Hadad Nejad M. (2016). “The effect of core muscle fatigue on upper limb function and scores of functional motor screening test in male athletes”, MSc dissertation, Kharazmi university, Tehran, Iran. (In Persian)
Glousman, R., Jobe, F., Tibone, J., Moynes, D., Antonelli, D., & Perry, J. (1988). “Dynamic electromyographic analysis of the throwing shoulder with glenohumeral instability”. The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume, 70(2), 220-226.
Gowan, I. D., Jobe, F. W., Tibone, J. E., Perry, J., & Moynes, D. R. (1987). “A comparative electromyographic analysis of the shoulder during pitching: professional versus amateur pitchers”. The American journal of sports medicine, 15(6), 586-590.
Gribble, P. A., Hertel, J., Denegar, C. R., & Buckley, W. E. (2004). “The effects of fatigue and chronic ankle instability on dynamic postural control”. Journal of athletic training, 39(4), 321.
Halbrecht, J. L., Tirman, P., & Atkin, D. (1999). “Internal impingement of the shoulder: comparison of findings between the throwing and nonthrowing shoulders of college baseball players”. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery, 15(3), 253-258.A
Hamilton, N. P. (2011). Kinesiology: Scientific basis of human motion. Brown & Benchmark.
Hill, J. L., Humphries, B., Weidner, T., & Newton, R. U. (2004). “Female collegiate windmill pitchers: influences to injury incidence”. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 18(3), 426-431.
Keeley, D. W., Hackett, T., Keirns, M., Sabick, M. B., & Torry, M. R. (2008). “A biomechanical analysis of youth pitching mechanics”. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, 28(4), 452-459.
Krajnik, S., Fogarty, K. J., Yard, E. E., & Comstock, R. D. (2010). “Shoulder injuries in US high school baseball and softball athletes, 2005–2008”. Pediatrics, 125(3), 497-501.
Limpisvasti, O., ElAttrache, N. S., & Jobe, F. W. (2007). “Understanding shoulder and elbow injuries in baseball”. JAAOS-Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 15(3), 139-147.
Mihata, T., McGarry, M. H., Kinoshita, M., & Lee, T. Q. (2010). “Excessive glenohumeral horizontal abduction as occurs during the late cocking phase of the throwing motion can be critical for internal impingement”. The American journal of sports medicine, 38(2), 369-374.
Mullaney, M. J., McHugh, M. P., Donofrio, T. M., & Nicholas, S. J. (2005). “Upper and lower extremity muscle fatigue after a baseball pitching performance”. The American journal of sports medicine, 33(1), 108-113.
Nissen, C. W., Westwell, M., Õunpuu, S., Patel, M., Tate, J. P., Pierz, K., ... & Bicos, J. (2007). “Adolescent baseball pitching technique: a detailed three-dimensional biomechanical analysis”. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 39(8), 1347-1357.
Osbahr, D. C., Cannon, D. L., & Speer, K. P. (2002). “Retroversion of the humerus in the throwing shoulder of college baseball pitchers”. The American journal of sports medicine, 30(3), 347-353.
Pletcher, E. R. (2017). The effects of consecutive softball windmill pitches on coordination patterns and variability, muscular strength, and pitching performance. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Pittsburgh).
Reimer III, R. C., & Wikstrom, E. A. (2010). “Functional fatigue of the hip and ankle musculature cause similar alterations in single leg stance postural control”. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 13(1), 161-166.
Rodosky, M. W., Harner, C. D., & Fu, F. H. (1994). “The role of the long head of the biceps muscle and superior glenoid labrum in anterior stability of the shoulder”. The American journal of sports medicine, 22(1), 121-130.
Shanley, E., Rauh, M. J., Michener, L. A., & Ellenbecker, T. S. (2011). “Incidence of injuries in high school softball and baseball players”. Journal of athletic training, 46(6), 648-654.
Springer, B. K., & Pincivero, D. M. (2009). “The effects of localized muscle and whole-body fatigue on single-leg balance between healthy men and women”. Gait & posture, 30(1), 50-54.
Stodden, D. F., Langendorfer, S. J., Fleisig, G. S., & Andrews, J. R. (2006). “Kinematic constraints associated with the acquisition of overarm throwing Part II: Upper extremity actions”. Research quarterly for exercise and sport, 77(4), 428-436.
Stodden, D. F., Langendorfer, S. J., Fleisig, G. S., & Andrews, J. R. (2006). “Kinematic constraints associated with the acquisition of overarm throwing Part I: Step and trunk actions”. Research quarterly for exercise and sport, 77(4), 417-427.
Takagi, Y., Oi, T., Tanaka, H., Inui, H., Fujioka, H., Tanaka, J., ... & Nobuhara, K. (2014). “Increased horizontal shoulder abduction is associated with an increase in shoulder joint load in baseball pitching”. Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery, 23(12), 1757-1762.
Trivedi, P. (2016). Lower extremity fatigue and throwing performance. Western Illinois University.
Whiteley, R. (2007). “Baseball throwing mechanics as they relate to pathology and performance-a review”. Journal of sports science & medicine, 6(1), 1.
Zech, A., Steib, S., Hentschke, C., Eckhardt, H., & Pfeifer, K. (2012). “Effects of localized and general fatigue on static and dynamic postural control in male team handball athletes”. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 26(4), 1162-1168.
Journal for Research in Sport Rehabilitation
Volume 11, Issue 21 - Serial Number 21
September 2023
Pages 109-118

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics