A Comparison of Pitching Biomechanics and Sport Specialization in High School Pitchers.
Tyler J Hamer, Adam B Rosen, Samuel J Wilkins and 3 others
PMID 35949379WHAT IT FOUND
High school pitchers classified as highly specialized showed no differences in pitching biomechanics or reported workload compared to less specialized peers.
They did throw faster, but this was linked to being older and heavier, not to specialization itself.
Key findings
01There were no significant differences in pitching biomechanics variables across low-, moderate-, and high-level specialized groups.
02There were no significant differences in self-reported workload, such as games played or innings pitched, across the specialization groups.
03High-level specialized pitchers were significantly older, had greater body mass and BMI, and threw with faster ball velocity than low-level specialized pitchers.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (36 pitchers), which limits the ability to detect subtle differences between groups. Workload data was self-reported and subject to recall bias, meaning the reported innings and games pitched may be inaccurate. Pitching biomechanics were assessed in a laboratory setting, which may not reflect mechanics during actual competition. The study did not measure potential confounders like upper extremity strength or range of motion, which the authors suggest may explain the velocity differences. Participants reported for evaluation at different times of the year, which could skew workload data.
Declared interests
The study was approved by Wake Forest University’s Institutional Review Board. No specific funding sources or conflicts of interest were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that sport specialization is harmless or has no impact on injury risk. This study only compared biomechanics and workload in a small, cross-sectional sample of high school pitchers. It found no differences in mechanics, but this does not rule out that specialization contributes to overuse injuries through other mechanisms, such as cumulative stress over time or fatigue not captured in a single lab assessment.