THE ROLES AND MECHANISMS OF LINEAR AND ANGULAR IMPULSE GENERATION FOR BOTH LEGS IN BASEBALL PITCHING: A WHOLE-BODY PERSPECTIVE

Authors

Jun M. Liu, Stevens Institute of TechnologyFollow
Christopher Knowlton, Rush University Medical CenterFollow
Matthew Gauthier, Rush University Medical CenterFollow
Zach Tropp, Athletico Physical Therapy, ChicagoFollow
Nikhil Verma, Rush University Medical CenterFollow
Gregory Nicholson, Rush University Medical CenterFollow
Anthony Romeo, DuPage Medical GroupFollow
Antonia Zaferiou, Stevens Institute of TechnologyFollow

Category

Athletics

Document Type

Paper

Abstract

This study compared the role of each leg in generating linear and angular impulse during fastball pitches performed by professional pitchers (n=4). Participants were asked to pitch from an instrumented mound and 6-11 successful fastball pitches were used for the analysis. The results indicate that back leg generated forward linear impulse and the front leg generated backward linear impulse for all pitchers. Back leg ground reaction forces generated significantly larger angular impulse about a horizontal axis passing through the body center of mass from the mound to first base than the front leg in three of four pitchers. Additionally, the mechanisms of moment generation about the axis by each leg differed.

Recommended Citation

Liu, Jun M.; Knowlton, Christopher; Gauthier, Matthew; Tropp, Zach; Verma, Nikhil; Nicholson, Gregory; Romeo, Anthony; and Zaferiou, Antonia (2021) "THE ROLES AND MECHANISMS OF LINEAR AND ANGULAR IMPULSE GENERATION FOR BOTH LEGS IN BASEBALL PITCHING: A WHOLE-BODY PERSPECTIVE," ISBS Proceedings Archive: Vol. 39: Iss. 1, Article 76.
Available at: https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol39/iss1/76