Throwing Mechanics and Elbow Valgus in Professional Baseball Pitchers by Sherry, L.W., Tricia, A.M - Article Example

Elbow Mechanics in Throwing Name: Institution: Article Critique Relationship between throwing mechanics and elbow valgus in professional baseball pitchers by Sherry, L.W., Tricia, A.M., Richard, J.H., and Thomas, J.G. Abstract Title: Relationship between throwing mechanics and elbow valgus in professional baseball pitchers. Aims: The main aim of the research indicated in this paper is to identify and explain the relationship between throwing mechanics and the elbow valgus in professional baseball pitchers. Methodology: The method applied in this research was sampling of forty baseball players and having them on the field. There activities were then recorded using video cameras with a primary focus being the elbow movement during fast throwing. Findings: The research found out that that baseball pitching motion places tremendous stress on the elbow joint Conclusion: T he researchers concluded that basing on the findings, there is need for improved throwing mechanics for all baseball pitchers. Introduction Biomechanics is a field of study that is concerned with the relationship between muscular movement and the resultant actions that are portrayed outside (Gurtin, 2003). The main area of concern is how the various movements that take place in the muscles affects the way various activities go on outside the human body (Totten & Liang, 2004). Various researches have been conducted in this field which is so diverse. This includes dental biomechanics that is concerned with teeth and chewing and a study of how movement in human beings is brought out among others (McNeill, 2005). The findings of these researches have been published and made available for learners and other scholars. In this paper, a selected biomechanics research article on elbow is selected and critically analyzed. The main aim is to examine the overall research and also the language used so as to establish whether it is scientific or not. In addition to that, it also aims at demonstrating an understanding of the selected biomechanics topic. This is done through examining the methodology used, the data collected and the findings presented (Hall, 1999). In addition recommendations are also made on how to make future researches more efficient. About the article Research has indicated that stress in the valgus elbow leads to medial tension and lateral compression injuries in baseball players. It is this basis that this research sought to investigate the relationship between elbow stress in professional baseball players and the kinematic parameters of pitching mechanics. In addition to that, valgus extension overload was also studied in an attempt to come up with preventive and rehabilitative rules. A study was devised, data collected and then analyzed. The whole process and the findings are contained in this article. The Title This research is entitled: Relationship between throwing mechanics and elbow valgus in professional baseball pitchers. This is a clear and simple to understand that gets the reader’s attention at a glance and also serves to summarize the whole article. Anybody who is in a hurry might get to understand what the whole paper is all about by just looking at the title once. The Introduction An introduction has been provided in this research article. It is a comprehensive overview of what the whole paper is all about. It begins by giving the background information to the whole research by clearly outlining its premises and then explaining the purpose of the research. In addition to that, the introduction gives a sneak preview of the method employed in the research and therefore readers find it easy to understand the whole paper. Statistics about the subject of the research are also given in the introduction which serves best to cement the understanding of the reader prior to the actual research in the paper (Bartlett, 1997). The introduction is therefore scholarly and scientific since a statement of the objective has been made in it. Methodology In this research, professional baseball pitchers with a mean age of 28 plus or minus 5 years were selected for the purpose of the research. The main purpose of selecting this group was because they were thought to have had enough time playing baseball and therefore gained a lot of experience. The average height of these pitchers was 188 cm while their weight lay within a range of 90 to 100 kg. Thirty two these pitchers were right handed while eight of them were left handed. In a scientific context, the subjects that were selected best suits the aim of the research since if they have been on the pitch for long and therefore the effect of the strain on their valgus elbow can serve to understand the whole mechanism (Humphrey, 2003). Ethical considerations were however not looked into bearing the fact that this is a research that was dealing with human beings. Rules that govern researches that have human beings as their subjects state that there should be no any violation of human rights (Hung & Pallis, 2004). This is especially to do with pain infringing research methods or activities that disrupt normal human operation. Data collection In collecting data in this research, three 120-Hz cameras were used which possess peak performance technologies. Two of these were placed on the right and left bleachers so as to aide in the side viewing. The third camera was placed in the press box and was meant to record the activities of all the throwers. At least two innings of high speed video data were collected for each athlete when he was throwing the ball. This method of data collection is found to be efficient and more reliable for the research since observation could not work due to short human eye range. However, this method is too costly since cameras had to be purchased and a digital paint calibrator involved. Video storage facilities had also to be bought and in addition, the method also required skilled personnel to operate the cameras so as to ensure that the videos of the pitchers are well recorded. To make it more efficient the researchers had to record one fastball that was thrown by each pitcher. Analysis A standard statistical software package was then used to reduce the kinematic and kinetic data. After that, descriptive statistics were obtained for a total of forty pitchers and then multiple linear regression analysis was used to relate the elbow valgus to kinematic parameters of pitching mechanics. Thereafter, a co relational analysis was carried out for all the variables involved. A combined analysis of the effects of various kinematic and kinetic parameters was carried out. This helped the researchers to come up with various findings. This analysis can be termed as being comprehensive and thus yielding results that are reliable. However, there is need to be careful when doing the analysis since any errors in calculation can lead to conclusions that are misleading (Chapman, 2008). Findings First of all, the mean velocity of the forty fastballs was found to be 40m/s. Stress at the valgus in the elbow joint was assumed to be the indicator of injury potential and was therefore chosen as a dependent variable since it had been associated with subsequent medial tension and lateral compressive pathologies. Tables have been applied to depict the ANOVA for the final model. The regression equation indicates that almost 97% of the variance in the valgus stress is on the elbow. It is also estimated that the standard error was 2.71. The findings indicate the elbow valgus is the most affected by the shoulder abduction angle at SFC. This indicates that baseball pitching motion places tremendous stress on the elbow joint (Sylvester, 2003). This stress can be defined by a term valgus extension. Clinical studies show that baseball pitchers and athletes are more susceptible medial tension or lateral compression. This is quite threatening to the careers of these individuals. The findings of this study can therefore work to ensure that there are improved ways of pitching mechanics. The results of the findings of analysis process have also been well presented in tabular form. The recommendations made are also practical and readily applicable. Recommendations The whole research process was conducted well and needs a round of applause. However there are few adjustments that if well done can be able to improve future researches in this field. First of all, the mode of selecting participants needs to be adjusted so as to include those who are yet to gain experience in the field. This would serve to explain the process and period through which this stress builds up. In addition to that, there is need to seek permission before selecting the participants and informing them of the research before conducting it (Hong, 2002). This would ensure that the whole process is within the framework that governs a scientific research. Lastly, the kind of method that is used to analyze data in this research is a bit complicated and therefore might not be understood by a normal reader without explanation. Conclusion It has been noted that the research presented in this article is of scientific nature. Facts have been presented and arguments supported by evidence from the research. The mode of study was well devised and the participants of the research well sampled. In addition to that, the method used to collected data is of high sensitivity thus ensuring that the outcome is efficient and reliable. The analysis done on the data is comprehensive and the findings well presented. The purpose of the research has therefore been achieved and the recommendations made by researchers are readily applicable in clinical and field settings. References Gurtin, M. (2003). An Introduction to continuum mechanics. San Diego: Elsevier. Totten, G., & Liang, H. (2004). Mechanical tribology. New York: Marcel Dekker. McNeill, A. (2005). Mechanics of animal movement. Current Biology, 15 (16), 616-619 Hall, S. J. (1999). Basic Biomechanics. Boston: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Bartlett, R. (1997). Introduction to sports biomechanics. New York, NY: Routledge Humphrey, J.D. (2003). The Royal Society. ed. "Continuum biomechanics of soft biological tissues". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, 459, 3–46 Hung, G.K., &Pallis, J.M. (2004). Biomedical engineering principles in sports. Berlin: Springer Chapman, A.E. (2008). Biomechanical analysis of fundamental human movements. Champaign: Human Kinetics. Sylvester, L.J. (2003). Complete book of throws. Champaign: Human Kinetics Hong, Y. (2002). International research in sports biomechanics. London: Routledge. Read More