THE BIOMECHANICS OF THROWING

Abstract

Overuse injury in baseball result most often from pitching. To investigate this problem, the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) has focused on pitching biomechanics. Kinematics (motions) and kinetics (forces and torques) are computed with a four-camera 200 Hz automated motion analysis system. Since 1989, ASMI has conducted 600 throwing tests. Because of its high risk of injury, baseball pitching has been the focus of much of the research. Kinematic and kinetic data from the 26 fastest healthy pitchers were analyzed to determine a model for proper pitching mechanics.