Predicting elbow load based on individual pelvis and trunk (inter)segmental rotations in fastball pitching

The baseball pitch is a repetitive, full-body throwing motion that exposes the elbow to significant loads, leading to a high incidence of elbow injuries. Elbow injuries in pitching are often attributed to high external valgus torques as these are generally considered to be a good proxy for the load on the Ulnar Collateral Ligament. The aim of...

Confirmatory Factor Analysis as a Biomechanical Tool: A Novel Approach to Investigating Different Fatigue Aspects in Baseball Pitching

BACKGROUND: Rising UCL injury rates at both amateur and professional levels have been linked to fatigue in baseball pitchers. Repeated pitching has been associated with changes to kinematics, kinetics, and perceived fatigue, but no statistical model exists which incorporates all the most common aspects of fatigue into one framework. Confirmatory...

Quantifying Within-Individual Elbow Load Variability in Youth Elite Baseball Pitchers and Its Role in Overuse Injuries

Medial elbow overuse injuries are rising in baseball. The external valgus torque magnitude is a possible risk factor for medial elbow injuries. The magnitude on its own cannot explain why one pitcher sustains an injury and another does not. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe the within-individual external valgus torque variability...

Using the Quasi-chemical formalism beyond the phase Diagram: Density and viscosity models for molten salt fuel systems

CALPHAD models to compute the density and viscosity of four keystone systems related to Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology have been optimized: NaCl-UCl₃, LiF-ThF₄, LiF-UF₄, and LiF-ThF₄-UF₄. Revised thermodynamic assessments of all four systems, using the modified quasichemical...

Establishing the elbow load and the within-pitcher load variability during a baseball pitch in relation to the ball speed

Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries are common in baseball pitching. The elbow external valgus torque is assumed to be indicative for the applied load on the UCL. This study investigated the maximum external valgus and extension torque and their corresponding load variability during a baseball pitch and the relationship between the...

Establishing the Role of Elbow Muscles by Evaluating Muscle Activation and Co-contraction Levels at Maximal External Rotation in Fastball Pitching

Background: Baseball pitching is associated with a high prevalence of ulnar collateral ligament injuries, potentially due to the high external valgus load on the medial side of the elbow at the instant of maximal shoulder external rotation (MER). In-vitro studies show that external valgus torque is resisted by the ulnar collateral ligament but...

The ulnar collateral ligament loading paradox between in-vitro and in-vivo studies on baseball pitching (narrative review)

Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) weakening or tears occur in 16% of professional baseball pitchers. To prevent players from sustaining a UCL injury, it is important to understand the relationship between the UCL properties and elbow stabilizers with the load on the UCL during pitching. In-vitro studies showed that the ultimate external valgus...

Establishing the capacity of the muscles around the elbow joint to compensate for the external valgus moment during a fastball pitch: An electromyographic study

Baseball pitching is a movement wherein an external valgus moment around the elbow joint regularly causes an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury. A proven relationship between the muscle activation around the elbow joint and its capacity to compensate for the external valgus moment during a baseball pitch allows predicting the likelihood of a...

The Influence of Elbow Flexion and Arm External Rotation on Peak Elbow Valgus Torque and Ball Velocity in Baseball Pitching

Introduction <br/>Elbow injury, especially Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) tear, is very common in baseball pitching. This is often attributed to high valgus torques repetitively stressing the ligament. The goal of this study was to research the effect of Elbow Flexion (EF) and arm External Rotation (ER) angle on Peak Valgus Torque (PVT) as well...