Foot function affects pitching motion: players with floating toes show inconsistent pitching motion

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how floating toes affect baseball pitching motion. Fifteen young male baseball players pitched from a pitching mound after physical examination, including floating toes, determining if any toes are not in contact with the ground. At least 20 pitches were thrown and the 10-best pitches were selected for the analysis. Images of the ball release point for sagittal and coronal views were captured from the videos recording the pitching motion. The positions of the ball, wrist, and leading foot were measured and the variability of each position over the 10 pitches was expressed as a standard deviation (SD). Each SD between the players with and without floating toes was statistically compared. The prevalence of floating toes on the pivot and plant foot was 47% and 33%, respectively. Those with floating toes on the pivot foot showed significantly greater SD in the antero-posterior position on the ball, wrist, and leading foot at ball release (p = 0.04, 0.02, and 0.01, respectively). Those with floating toes on the plant foot showed a significantly greater SD in the antero-posterior position of the plant foot (p = 0.02). Pitching with floating toes may lead to inconsistent pitching motion.