Abstract:
Purpose
To determine the cumulative elbow varus torque experienced during created interval
throwing programs (ITP) and derive innings pitched equivalent for each step.
Methods
High school pitchers wearing the motusBASEBALL sensor who had at least 50 throws at
90ft, 120ft, 150ft, 180ft, and game pitches were included in this analysis. Means
for elbow varus torque per throw and torque per minute were calculated at each distance.
Three throwing programs were created using a template of one phase at each distance
with two steps per phase. Programs varied only by number of throws per set (20, 25,
30 throws for Program A, B, C, respectively). Total EVT for each step, phase, and
program were calculated using mean EVT per throw at each distance. Total EVT for each
step and program were converted to a mean inning pitched equivalent (IPE) and maximum
pitch count equivalent (MPE), respectively, using in-game pitching torque values and
expected mean pitch counts (15 pitches/inning and maximum 105 pitches/game).
Results
A total of 3,447 throws were analyzed from 7 subjects (16.7 years ± 0.8 yrs). EVT
per throw increased at each distance (range 36.9-45.5 N·m), comparable to game pitches
(45.7 N·m). Mean EVT per minute was highest for 90 ft throws (193.4 N·m/min) and lowest
for game pitches (125 N·m/min). Throwing Program A had the lowest range of IPE (Step
1: 2.0 and Step 8: 3.7), and Program C had the highest range (Step 1: 3.0 and Step
8: 5.6). The phases of Program A never exceeded 1MPE. Program B exceeded this threshold
after Phase 1, and Program C exceeded 1MPE at every phase. Total program MPE ranged
from 3.5 to 5.2 (Program A and C, respectively).
Conclusions
Programs requiring 25 or more throws per set reached approximately 5 IPE per day.
Increasing throwing repetitions by 10 throws resulted in a nearly 50% increase in
IPE and MPE.
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
May 12,
2022
Received in revised form:
May 3,
2022
Received:
October 9,
2021
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofFootnotes
Level of Evidence: Retrospective cohort study; level of evidence IV
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Published by Elsevier on behalf of the Arthroscopy Association of North America
