The Influence of Shoe and Cleat Type on Lower Extremity Muscle Activation in Youth Baseball Pitchers

International journal of kinesiology and sports science

article

Jacob R. Gdovin¹  Chip Wade²  Lauren A. Luginsland³  Charles C. Williams⁴  Riley Galloway⁵  John C. Garner⁶ 

[1]Department of Physical Education, Sport, and Human Performance, Winthrop University

[2]Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Auburn University

[3]Department of Human Movement Sciences, Old Dominion University

[4]Department of Clinical & Applied Movement Sciences, University of North Florida

[5]School of Kinesiology and Nutrition, The University of Southern Mississippi

[6]Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, Troy University

关键词: Shoes;    Baseball;    Electromyography;    Lower Extremity;    Muscles;    Adolescent;   

DOI  :  10.7575/aiac.ijkss.v.10n.1p.44

来源: Australian International Academic Centre PTY. LTD.

【 摘 要 】

Background: Baseball pitching is a dynamic movement where the lower extremities generateand sequentially transfer energy to the upper extremities to maximize ball velocity. The needfor lower body muscular strength to produce adequate push-off and landing forces has beendocumented; however, the influence footwear and surface inclination has on muscle activationremains unknown. Objectives: Determine how pitching in molded cleats and turf shoesfrom a pitching mound and flat ground affects stride-leg muscle activation in youth baseballpitchers while determining percent activation during each pitching phase. Methods: Cross –sectional study analyzing mean muscle activity and percent activation of the vastus medialis,semitendinosus, tibialis anterior, and medial gastrocnemius on the stride-leg of 11 youth baseballpitchers when pitching fastballs. Results: Footwear did not significantly alter vastus medialis orsemitendinosus muscle activation (P > 0.05). The turf shoe x pitching mound interaction elicitedsignificantly (P < 0.05) greater mean muscle activity in the medial gastrocnemius and tibialisanterior from stride foot contact to maximum glenohumeral internal rotation. Molded cleatsproduced greater activation levels in the tibialis anterior on flat ground from stride foot contact(0.374 ± 0.176 mV) to ball release (0.469 ± 0.150 mV). Conclusion: Findings suggest footwearsignificantly alters the activity level of the ankle stabilizing musculature. Youth baseball pitchersand coaches should be cognizant of what footwear is worn on a pitching surface. Maximalactivation of the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius can ensure the stride leg is adequatelystabilized to absorb the momentum generated by trail leg.

【 授权许可】

Unknown