Comparison of Pelvis and Trunk Kinematics Between Youth and Collegiate Windmill Softball Pitchers

Background: The windmill softball pitch is a dynamic sporting movement that places softball pitchers at high risk of injury. Unlike baseball, there is limited research into the mechanical differences between softball pitchers of varying skill levels.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to compare pelvis and trunk kinematics between youth and collegiate softball pitchers. It was hypothesized that there would be significant differences in pelvis and trunk kinematics between these 2 groups.

Study design: Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods: The pelvic and trunk kinematics of 90 softball pitchers were collected during full-effort pitching using a 3-dimensional motion capture system. Participants were grouped based on their age at the time of data collection (35 youth [mean age, 11 ± 1 years]; 55 collegiate [mean age, 20 ± 2 years]). We compared between-group differences in pelvic posterior tilt, lateral tilt, axial rotation, and axial rotation velocity as well as trunk extension, lateral flexion, axial rotation, and axial rotation velocity during the pitching phase between start of pitch and ball release (BR) using 1-dimensional statistical parametric mapping. Statistical significance was determined using Holmes-Šidák stepdown correction-adjusted P values (P ').

Results: Compared with youth pitchers, collegiate pitchers exhibited a more posteriorly tilted pelvis from the moment of start of pitch until 94% of the way between start of pitch and BR (P ' = .002) and a more laterally flexed trunk toward the glove side from the moment of start of pitch until 71% of the way between start of pitch and BR (P ' = .010).

Conclusion: Collegiate pitchers displayed a more posteriorly tilted pelvis and more laterally flexed trunk toward the glove side during the windmill pitching motion when compared with youth pitchers.

Clinical relevance: These findings add to the growing body of softball research and help elucidate mechanical differences between youth and collegiate softball pitchers.