In the Zone - with Garrison Roy

EP 236: Lead Hip Mechanics and Injury Risks in Pitching

Garrison Roy

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This episode delves into the study “The Role of the Lead Hip in Collegiate Baseball Pitching,” examining connections between hip rotation, ball velocity, and elbow movement in college pitchers. Using a motion capture system with 99 athletes, the study highlights a potential link between lead hip mechanics and pitching performance but stops short of fully addressing injury risk complexities.

The discussion critiques the study’s oversimplified injury-risk assessment, pointing out the multifactorial nature of injuries influenced by environment, workload, and individual biomechanics. Highlighting the interdependence of hip movement, Gareth explains how limitations in hip rotation may lead to compensations, causing fatigue and increasing injury potential in the arm.

Key takeaways include the need for conditioning during ramp-up phases to reduce injury risks from fatigue. Studies show a drastic rise in injury likelihood for pitchers throwing over 80 pitches per week or exceeding eight months of pitching annually. The episode also stresses the importance of pre-game conditioning and sustainable ramp-up periods to manage injury risks effectively.


SciHub - click to get full research articles for FREE

Study Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39179223/

Youtube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/2pBFhhUTSGw

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