Variability in Baseball Throwing Metrics During a Structured Long-Toss Program: Does One Size Fit All or Should...

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Medicine
• Athletic Performance

Background:

• The variability of throwing metrics, specifically elbow torque and ball velocity, during structured long-toss programs remains largely unknown.
• Understanding these metrics is crucial for optimizing training and preventing injuries in pitchers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the changes in elbow torque and ball velocity throughout a structured long-toss program.
• To assess the intrathrower and interthrower reliability of these throwing metrics.

Main Methods:

• Sixty healthy high school and collegiate pitchers participated in a structured long-toss program.
• Validated inertial measurement units and radar guns were used to measure arm slot, arm velocity, shoulder rotation, elbow varus torque, and ball velocity.
• Data were collected at various throwing distances (90-180 ft) and during maximum effort mound pitching.

Main Results:

• Ball velocity significantly increased with throwing distance, while elbow torque did not show a similar trend.
• Mound pitching did not generate significantly more elbow torque than long-toss throws from 120 ft and beyond.
• Intrathrower reliability was excellent for all metrics, but interthrower reliability for elbow torque was less consistent than for ball velocity.

Conclusions:

• Incorporating mound pitching earlier in training, around the 120 ft mark, may be feasible based on elbow torque trends.
• Ball velocity is not a reliable indicator of elbow torque; caution is advised when using radar guns for torque estimation.
• The significant interthrower variability in elbow torque suggests that individualized long-toss programs could be beneficial for certain athletes.