Poster 204: Changes in Elbow Stress and Ball Velocity During Reduced Effort Pitching: A Marker-Based Motion Capture Analysis

Objectives: Baseball pitchers often participate in throwing programs that involve at reduced effort levels to gradually increase the amount of stress experienced across elbow. It is currently unknown how pitching compares maximum with respect elbow and ball velocity. The purpose this study determine whether velocity correlate pitching, decrease proportionally while a effort, assess intrathrower reliability. Methods: Ten healthy male high school baseball threw 5 pitches from regulation mound 3 levels: 75% 50% effort. Elbow stress, specifically varus torque, was calculated for all using marker-based 3D motion capture system. Ball measured Doppler radar gun. Intrathrower variability each level. Results: decreased throws (p<0.001 p=0.003, respectively). However, reductions were not proportional. At throws, only 19% 10%. 25% 15%. reliability excellent velocity, intraclass correlation coefficients greater than or equal 0.80. Conclusions: Pitching level resulted every reduction perceived by mean 13% 8%. When attempt throw maximum, metrics do proportionately. While decreases proportional, subjecting more intended. This has significant clinical importance pitchers, coaches, medical professionals setting injury prevention return sport. [Table: see text]