Softball Pitching Propulsion and Performance Differences According to Body Fat Percentage

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Softball pitchers with high body fat percentages (bf%) can be successful despite increased injury risks.
• High bf% may offer performance advantages due to enhanced propulsion during pitching.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in ground reaction force (GRF) development between high bf% (≥32%) and healthy bf% (<32%) female high-school softball pitchers.
• To explore the relationship between body composition and pitching performance metrics.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-two female high-school softball pitchers underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans.
• Ground reaction force (GRF) data were collected using a force plate during pitching.
• Pitch speed, body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were also measured.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in GRF development were observed between the two pitcher groups.
• Pitchers with a healthy bf% exhibited greater weight-normalized peak medial GRF.
• BMI and FFMI positively correlated with pitch speed, while bf% and FMI showed negative associations.

Conclusions:

• While success is possible with higher body fat, increased bf% may be associated with performance disadvantages in softball pitching.
• Healthy bf% pitchers may possess biomechanical advantages related to force production.