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Effect of three different between-inning recovery methods on baseball pitching performance.
Courtney D Warren1, Lee E Brown, Merrill R Landers
1Department of Athletic Training, College of Allied Health Professionals, Montana State University Billings, Billings, Montana, USA.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|February 12, 2011
Summary
Electromuscular stimulation (EMS) effectively aids muscle recovery in baseball pitchers between innings. This method significantly reduced blood lactate levels and improved perceived recovery, suggesting it enhances subsequent performance.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Muscle fatigue, indicated by increased blood hydrogen ions (H+), can impair athletic performance.
- Effective recovery strategies are crucial for athletes to maintain performance during demanding activities like baseball pitching.
- Understanding the physiological and psychological impacts of different recovery methods is essential for optimizing athletic training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of three recovery methods: passive recovery (PR), active recovery (AR), and electromuscular stimulation (EMS).
- To determine the optimal recovery strategy for baseball pitchers following an inning of pitching.
- To evaluate recovery based on biological (blood lactate), physiological (pitching speed), and psychological (perceived recovery) measures.
Main Methods:
- Seven NCAA Division II college baseball pitchers (mean age 21 ± 2 years) participated in simulated game play.
- Recovery methods (PR, AR, EMS) were administered between innings.
- Measurements included blood lactate (BLa) levels, average pitching speed, and subjective perceived recovery.
Main Results:
- Electromuscular stimulation (EMS) resulted in a significant decrease in blood lactate (BLa) levels (p < 0.0005).
- Passive recovery (PR) and active recovery (AR) did not show significant changes in BLa levels (p = 0.017 and p = 0.134, respectively).
- Pitchers reported the best perceived recovery with EMS and PR methods.
Conclusions:
- Electromuscular stimulation (EMS) is an effective recovery method for baseball pitchers between innings.
- EMS significantly aids in reducing blood lactate accumulation post-exertion.
- The findings suggest EMS can enhance muscle recovery and potentially improve subsequent pitching performance.
