COMPARISON OF PELVIS KINEMATICS DURING THE BASEBALL PITCH: FATIGUED AND NON-FATIGUED CONDITIONS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify changes that occur in pelvis kinematics as baseball pitchers fatigue during extended performances. Kinematic data describing the actions of the pelvis were collected using electromagnetic tracking techniques and calculated using the ISB recommendations. There were significant differences between non-fatigued and fatigued conditions in the angle of lateral pelvis flexion at maximum external rotation and release (p<0.05). As for the rate of axial pelvis rotation, no differences were observed between the non-fatigued and fatigued states. These results indicate that fatigue may play a major role in pitchers altering the actions of the pelvis during pitching.