Biomechanical Parameters, Sports, Techniques, Young
Conditions
Keywords
baseball, adolescent athletes, pitching velocity, biomechanics
Brief summary
This completed observational repeated-measures study examined the relationship between field-based physical and temporal measures and pitch velocity in adolescent baseball pitchers. Six adolescent pitchers were assessed repeatedly over five weeks. The assessment battery included rotational medicine-ball throw distance, countermovement jump height, 30 m sprint time, shoulder flexibility, temporal characteristics of two operational wind-up phases, and pitch velocity measured with a sports radar. No experimental intervention or modification of the athletes' usual training was implemented.
Detailed description
Pitch velocity is a relevant performance indicator in baseball pitching, particularly during adolescent development, when physical capacities, technical refinement, and sport-specific skill acquisition occur simultaneously. This completed observational study was designed to explore whether field-based measures of explosive strength, shoulder flexibility, sprint performance, and wind-up temporal organization were associated with pitch velocity in adolescent baseball pitchers. The study used a quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive-correlational, longitudinal repeated-measures design. Six adolescent baseball pitchers were assessed once per week over approximately five weeks, yielding repeated observations nested within each athlete. The study did not involve an assigned intervention, randomization, treatment allocation, or modification of the athletes' usual training process. The field-based assessment battery included rotational medicine-ball throw distance as an indicator of upper-body rotational explosive performance, countermovement jump height as an indicator of lower-body explosive performance, 30 m flying sprint time as an indicator of sprint performance, shoulder flexibility assessed through a behind-the-back shoulder mobility test, temporal analysis of two operational phases of the pitching wind-up using video, and pitch velocity measured with a sports radar. Wind-up phase 1 was operationally defined as the interval from maximal knee elevation to bilateral foot contact, whereas wind-up phase 2 was defined as the interval from bilateral foot contact to frontal orientation toward the target. The main analytical purpose was to describe the magnitude and direction of the associations between the field-based measures and pitch velocity while accounting for the repeated-measures structure of the data. Analyses were planned using descriptive statistics and association models appropriate for repeated observations within participants, including mixed-effects models or exploratory correlation procedures when required by the sample size.
Interventions
OTHERField-Based Performance Assessment Battery
Participants completed a field-based assessment battery including rotational medicine-ball throw, countermovement jump, 30 m flying sprint, shoulder flexibility assessment, video-based wind-up temporal analysis, and radar-based pitch velocity measurement. These procedures were used only for observational assessment and did not constitute an assigned intervention.
Sponsors
Federal University of Vicosa
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
RETROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
13 Years to 14 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male adolescent baseball players aged 13 to 14 years. * Regular pitchers or players who performed regular pitching duties within an organized baseball training process. * Regular participation in baseball training during the assessment period. * Ability to complete field-based jumping, sprinting, shoulder flexibility, pitching, and video-based wind-up assessments. * Parent or legal guardian consent and participant assent.
Exclusion criteria
* Active musculoskeletal injury, relevant pain, or medical restriction limiting participation in jumping, sprinting, or pitching assessments. * Ongoing physical rehabilitation at the time of assessment. * Medical contraindication for performing physical efforts consistent with regular baseball practice. * Insufficient attendance to complete the minimum repeated-measures record required for analysis. * Withdrawal of parent/legal guardian consent or participant assent.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch Velocity | At each weekly assessment over 5 weeks | Pitch velocity was measured in miles per hour using a sports radar during baseball pitches performed with the athlete's usual pitching technique. The best valid attempt was recorded for each assessment session. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rotational Medicine-Ball Throw Distance | At each weekly assessment over 5 weeks | Distance achieved in a rotational medicine-ball throw, used as a field-based indicator of upper-body rotational explosive performance. |
| Countermovement Jump Height | At each weekly assessment over 5 weeks | Jump height measured during a countermovement jump, used as a field-based indicator of lower-body explosive performance. |
| 30 m Flying Sprint Time | At each weekly assessment over 5 weeks | Time recorded during a 30 m flying sprint test, used as a field-based indicator of sprint performance. |
| Shoulder Flexibility | At each weekly assessment over 5 weeks | Shoulder flexibility assessed through a behind-the-back shoulder mobility test, recording the distance or overlap between the middle fingers. |
| Wind-Up Phase 1 Duration | At each weekly assessment over 5 weeks | Duration of the first operational wind-up phase, defined as the time from maximal knee elevation to bilateral foot contact, assessed using video analysis. |
| Wind-Up Phase 2 Duration | At each weekly assessment over 5 weeks | Duration of the second operational wind-up phase, defined as the time from bilateral foot contact to frontal orientation toward the target, assessed using video analysis. |
Countries
Colombia
Contacts
STUDY_DIRECTORSAMUEL JOSE GAVIRIA ALZATE, PhD
Tecnologico de Antioquia
Outcome results
None listed