Influence of biomechanical models on joint kinematics and kinetics in baseball pitching

Journal article (2018)

Authors

X. Gasparutto Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
E. van der Graaff Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Biomechanical Engineering
Frans van der Helm Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
FCT van der Helm Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
F.C.T. van der Helm Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Frans C T van der Helm Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Frans C.T. van der Helm Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
DirkJan Veeger Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering , Biomechanical Engineering
H.E.J. Veeger Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering , Biomechanical Engineering
Department
Biomechanical Engineering
Copyright: © 2018 X. Gasparutto, E. van der Graaff, F.C.T. van der Helm, H.E.J. Veeger
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2018.1523453
More Info
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Published Date

2018

Language

English

Department

Biomechanical Engineering

Abstract

In baseball pitching, biomechanical parameters have been linked to ball velocity and potential injury risk. However, although the features of a biomechanical model have a significant influence on the kinematics and kinetics of a motion, this influence have not been assessed for pitching. The aim of this study was to evaluate the choice of the trunk and shoulder features, by comparing two models using the same input. The models differed in thoraco-humeral joint definition (moving or fixed with the thorax), joint centre estimation, values of the inertial parameters and computational framework. One professional pitcher participated in the study. We found that the different features of the biomechanical models have a substantial influence on the kinematics and kinetics of the pitchers. With a fixed thoraco-humeral joint the peak average thorax angular velocity was delayed and underestimated by 17% and the shoulder internal rotation velocity was overestimated by 7%. The use of a thoraco-humeral joint fixed to the thorax will lead to an overestimation of the rotational power at the shoulder and will neglect the power produced by the forward and upward translation of the shoulder girdle. These findings have direct implications for the interpretation of shoulder muscle contributions to the pitch.