Professional Pitchers with Higher Combined Joint and Segment Velocities Irrespective of Sequence Order Demonstrate Faster Ball Velocity At The Cost of Increased Throwing Arm Kinetics.

Background: Observe how summative maximum joint and segment velocities, dependent and independent of sequence order, may impact ball velocity and throwing arm kinetics in professional pitchers. Methods: Professional (n=338) pitchers threw 8-12 fastball pitches while evaluated with 3Dmotion capture (480 Hz). Pitches (independent and dependent of sequence order) were classified as 'Overall Fast* or 'Overall Slow' with kinematic and kinetic parameters compared between groups. A regression model for ball velocity dependent on maximum joint and segment velocities was also calculated. Results: In-sequence pitches with 'Overall Fasf velocity consisted of smaller mass (p<0.001, d=0.9) pitchers that achieved faster ball velocity by on average, 1.6m/s or 3.6 mi/hr (p<0.001, d=1.1). When comparing throwing arm kinetics, the 'Overall Fast' pitches had significantly higher absolute shoulder internal rotation torque (p<0.001, d=1.1), shoulder distractive force (p<0.001, d=1.4), elbow medial force (p=0.014, d=0.7), and elbow flexion torque (p<0.001, d=0.7). A multi-regression prediction model for ball velocity based on maximum joint and segment velocities achieved a R Conclusion: Professional pitchers with increasing summative maximum joint and segment velocities demonstrated faster ball velocity at the cost of increased throwing arm kinetics, irrespective of sequence order. Level of Evidence: IV.