It is known that high elbow valgus torque in the pitching motion can contribute to the occurrence of elbow injury. Lately, studies have shown pitchers with UCL tears had significantly lower balance measures than healthy players when tested after injury occurred. There is a paucity of research on the effect of balance-specific training on the joint loading of the elbow and player performance in baseball pitching.
PURPOSE To investigate the effect of a balance training intervention on the biomechanical factors that can contribute to a pitcher’s increased risk of elbow injury.
METHODS Thirteen collegiate baseball pitchers were randomly assigned to a training group: control or intervention. The control group did only the team training and the intervention group did the team training and a specific balance training program. The intervention was performed 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Measurements of balance (Y-Balance), limits of stability (center of pressure excursion), ball speed, and joint kinematics and kinetics, specifically maximum elbow valgus torque (MEV), through motion capture were collected before and after the 6-week training program.
RESULTS None of the outcome measures showed a significant difference between training type (Y-Balance
p=.405; COP excursion
p=.537, ball speed
p=.150; MEV
p=.945). Three outcome measures, COP excursion (
p=.007), ball speed (
p=.003), and MEV (
p<.001) showed significant decreases over time regardless of training type. A Pearson Correlation was run for the entire study population (n=13) between ball speed and MEV for initial (
p=.409) and final (
p=-.300) testing and showed no significant correlation between the variables.
CONCLUSION The balance training program had no observable effect on a pitchers’ pitching performance or elbow kinetics. There was no significant difference between groups in pre or post measures, therefore, any change in balance measures can be attributed to normal in-season training strength development.
| | |
| Pre-Intervention | Post-Intervention |
| Y-Balance | | |
| Control | 123.1 ± 9.7 cm | 124.5 ± 11.9 cm |
| Intervention | 119.0 ± 7.7 cm | 122.0 ± 9.6 cm |
| COP Excursion | | |
| Control | 160.5 ± 33.9 cm | 129.4 ± 4.3 cm |
| Intervention | 152.4 ± 24.7 cm | 131.1 ± 13.0 cm |
| Ball Speed | | |
| Control | 81.2 ± 3.2 mph | 77.9 ± 3.8 mph |
| Intervention | 81.1 ± 2.6 mph | 73.5 ± 3.4 mph |
| Maximum Elbow Valgus | | |
| Control | 103.6 ± 28.6 Nm | 64.5 ± 8.7 Nm |
| Intervention | 117.0 ± 27.2 Nm | 77.0
± 13.7 Nm |
