Increasing the speed of pitches is key in baseball performance. The interventions by means of the implement of weights are used to improve the strength and to strengthen the muscles of the shoulder. The objective of the study is to assess the effectiveness of an exercise protocol with weight implements in increasing the speed of throws and shoulder mobility in pitchers aged 18 to 40 years. Randomized pilot study. 12 pitchers will be randomized to the study groups: experimental (intervention with launches with weight implement) and control (without any intervention). The intervention will last 4 weeks, with 2 weekly sessions of 15 minutes each. The study variables will be the range of shoulder movement (goniometry) and the speed of the throws (speed radar). A descriptive statistical analysis will be performed calculating median and interquartile range. With the Shapiro-Wills test, the sample distribution will be calculated. If there is homogeneity, with the t-student test the changes will be calculated after the intervention in both groups. The intra and intersubject effect will be calculated with the ANOVA of repeated measures. The effect size will be obtained with Cohen's mean difference formula. It is expected to see improvement in the speed of the throws and in the range of shoulder movement.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
The technique will be done by making the same movement of the launch, but with the weight implement. The physiotherapist will be next to the pitcher, noting that there is no pain or discomfort when launching. The session will be held for 15min with 30 seconds of rest between each launch, until reaching 15 pitches. The sessions will be directed by a physiotherapist, in charge of supervising that the pitcher is correctly making the requested movement.
Universidad Europea de Madrid
Madrid, Comunity of Madrid, Spain
Change from baseline internal shoulder rotation after treatment and at month
A goniometer will be used to measure the range of shoulder joint mobility. The athlete will be placed supine with the shoulder in 90º of abduction and the elbow flexed to 90º. The patient will be asked to do an internal shoulder rotation. The goniometer axis will be placed on the olecranon, while the mobile arm aligned along the cube to the ulnar process and the fixed arm will be perpendicular to the ground. The unit of measure is the degrees; where to greater graduation, greater mobility. The normative range of shoulder mobility is 0º-70º in internal rotation.
Time frame: Screening visit, within the first seven days after treatment and after one month follow-up visit
Change from baseline external shoulder rotation after treatment and at month
A goniometer will be used to measure the range of shoulder joint mobility. The athlete will be placed supine with the shoulder in 90º of abduction and the elbow flexed to 90º. The patient will be asked to do an external shoulder rotation. The goniometer axis will be placed on the olecranon, while the mobile arm aligned along the cube to the ulnar process and the fixed arm will be perpendicular to the ground. The unit of measure is the degrees; where to greater graduation, greater mobility. The normative range of shoulder mobility is 0º-90º in external rotation.
Time frame: Screening visit, within the first seven days after treatment and after one month follow-up visit
Change from baseline throwing speed after treatment and at month
A "Doppler Radar Gun" device (Stalker Radar model) will be used to measure the speed of the throws. The unit of measure is in kilometers per hour; The higher the registered number, the faster the launch. The pitcher will be placed at the same distance at which he normally throws. The pitcher will be asked to make the throws at his maximum effort and the time that elapses from the release of the ball until the catcher catches it will be calculated.
Time frame: Screening visit, within the first seven days after treatment and after one month follow-up visit
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.