2019 IN THE SPORTS MEDICINE & MOVEMENT LAB

This Spring the Sports Medicine & Movement Lab has been very busy with on-going research data collections, dissertation data collections, and research presentations. We wanted to briefly highlight the data collections being conducted in the lab as well as the regional ACSM presentations. For more information about the manuscripts being published from the Sports Medicine & Movement Lab, please visit our google scholar page by clicking on this link: Sports Medicine & Movement Lab

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN GLENOHUMERAL ROTATION STRENGTH & BASEBALL PITCHING MECHANICS RELATED TO INJURY

Sports medicine professionals often assess shoulder stability and injury risk using rotation strength tests. Previously it has been suggested that weakness or imbalances between glenohumeral external rotation and internal rotation strength may affect pitching performance as well as increase injury susceptibility. However, mechanisms behind this potential increase in injury risk remain unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between glenohumeral rotation tests and pitching mechanics. It is hypothesized that weakness and imbalance between the glenohumeral external and internal rotators will be associated with mechanical variables associated with injury.

ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC ACTIVITY OF UPPER EXTREMITY MUSCULATURE DURING ISOMETRIC GLENOHUMERAL EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ROTATION IN VARIOUS TESTING POSITIONS

Stability of the glenohumeral joint is critical for efficient movement of the upper extremity during overhead athletic tasks such as swinging, throwing, or striking. This stability is maintained by the musculature surrounding the upper arm and shoulder girdle. Dysfunction of these muscles can reduce glenohumeral stability thereby leading to decreased athletic performance and increased risk of injury. However, to date there is no consensus regarding optimal testing position for assessing glenohumeral external and internal rotation strength. Electromyographic analysis of muscles important to overhead athletes while in multiple testing positions will help sports medicine professionals choose the optimal testing positions for their clients. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine muscle activations of the upper extremity while performing isometric glenohumeral external and internal rotation in several testing positions currently found in the literature. It is hypothesized that there will be differences in muscle activity between the testing positions.

INFLUENCE OF UPPER EXTREMITY ANTHROPOMETRICS ON BASEBALL & SOFTBALL HITTING

The Sports Medicine & Movement Lab has recently began working more with the offensive side of the game! This early spring, we examined batters on Auburn’s softball team. Batted ball measurements were recorded through use of a device called Rapsodo®, then correlated with batter anthropometric measurements. This pilot testing has revealed strong correlations between batted ball distance and arm length. These results reveal which physical traits contribute to hitters’ performance.
One of our undergraduate students, Johann Phan, has recently been awarded an undergraduate research fellowship to continue this work within various populations. While the current results show that taller players with longer limbs and levers at the collegiate level may be at an advantage offensively against their shorter counterparts, this may not be true prior to puberty. Therefore, studies in the near future will look to examine youth and high school populations to see if anthropometrics are again an indicator performance. While we currently know that efficient energy transfer and acceleration of the upper extremity is vital in the hitting performance, understanding what factors lead to better arm acceleration and energy transfer is key. Stay tuned!

HIP & SHOULDER RANGE OF MOTION AND STRENGTH ADAPTATIONS PRE & POST SEASON IN HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL ATHLETES

This study recruited two High School baseball teams. One team served as the control and the second team performed a pre-throwing intervention program in addition to the regular warm-up. Hip & shoulder range of motion and strength were assessed pre and post season. We are currently completing post season measurements.

EXAMINATION OF A SIMULATED GAME ON YOUTH SOFTBALL PITCHERS' UPPER & LOWER EXTREMITY MECHANICS & BICEPS TENDON

Last year the Sports Medicine & Movement Lab published a paper examining the biceps tendon pre and post throwing a simulated game in youth softball pitchers. This study is a continuation, that is also examining pitching kinematics, kinetics as well as the biceps tendon.

One of our freshman undergraduate researchers, Caroline Kirkham received an undergraduate research fellowship from the College of Education. Her fellowship will focus on lower extremity influences on the biceps tendon in youth softball pitchers.

INFLUENCE OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY ON UPPER EXTREMITY KINEMATICS OF BASEBALL PITCHERS

This is a dissertation study examining the importance of utilizing the proximal lower extremity, lumbopelvic-hip complex, and distal upper extremity for efficient overhead movement. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation of lumbopelvic-hip complex stability via the single leg squat to shoulder and elbow kinetics, and ball control during the fastball baseball pitch.

INFLUENCE OF GLOVE ARM ON UPPER EXTREMITY KINEMATICS & KINETICS IN BASEBALL PITCHERS

This dissertation project is examining the effect that weight in the glove hand has on upper extremity and lumbopelvic-hip complex muscle activation; glove arm, trunk, and pitching arm kinematics; and pitching arm kinetics during the baseball pitch. This study was developed following the successful pilots of two previously published manuscripts examining the glove arm in baseball pitching, and an examination of the glove arm in softball pitching.

PAIN HISTORY AND PITCHING MECHANICS IN DIVISION I COLLEGIATE SOFTBALL PITCHERS

The Sports Medicine & Movement Lab continues to add to its data base regarding pain history and pitching mechanics in NCAA Division I collegiate softball pitchers. Currently we have published two papers from this data set and have two additional manuscripts in review. The Sports Medicine & Movement Lab would like to THANK all those teams who have participated in our on going research. We know we cannot do what we do with out the teams willingly participating.

BIOMECHANICS IMPLICATION OF PERFORMANCE GARMENTS DURING THE OVERHEAD THROW AMONG FEMALE ATHLETES

Performance garments have become increasingly popular with athletes for training and recovery; yet there is a paucity of data regarding the biomechanics benefits of a performance garment on the overhead throw. The purpose of this dissertation study is to determine if there are upper extremity kinematic differences in posture while static standing and while performing an overhead throw in female athletes wearing two different performance garments.

SPORTS SPECIALIZATION AND FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT

One of our undergraduate research fellows, Abby Brittain is finishing up her fellowship project examining sports specialization and functional movement.