Differences in Lower Extremity Kinematics Between Collegiate and Youth Softball Pitchers

Abstract

Background: Softball pitching is a whole-body motion that utilizes the kinetic chain to transfer the large amounts of force generated by the lower extremity to the ball. Although the lower extremity is responsible for generating most of the force in softball pitching, limited research has investigated how lower extremity kinematics vary with age. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to compare lower extremity kinematics between collegiate and youth softball pitchers. It was hypothesized that there would be significant lower extremity kinematic differences between age groups. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Overall, 83 softball pitchers participated in the study: 40 youth and 43 collegiate players. Kinematic data were collected using an electromagnetic motion capture system. All participants threw 3 fastballs to a catcher for a strike at regulation distance. Owing to nonnormally distributed data, Mann-Whitney U tests were used to determine group differences at 5 events during the pitching motion. The alpha level was set a priori at.006. Results: Collegiate pitchers had significantly higher drive-knee extension angular velocity at the 3-o’clock position than youth pitchers (182.30 ± 145.44 vs –34.66 ± 219.66 rad/s; P