Acute Effects of a Resistance Tubing Training Device on Baseball Swing Kinematics

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the acute kinematic changes that occur on the youth baseball swing following use of a resistance tubing training device. Methods: Kinematic data were collected on 10 subjects (13.2 ±1.9 years of age; 161.8 ±17.4 cm; 54.4 ±15.9 kg) at 240 Hz using Flock of Birds electromagnetic tracking system (TrackSTAR™, Ascension Technologies Inc., Burlington, VT., USA) synced with The MotionMonitor® (Innovative Sports Training, Chicago, IL., USA). Participants were required to hit 5 baseballs off of a tee with intention to hit line drives up the middle. At the completion of a three-minute rest, the participants were equipped with the resistance tubing training device and asked to perform 20 low effort dry swings. Subjects were then asked to hit 5 baseballs off a tee while wearing a resistance tubing training device and then 5 more off the tee without wearing a resistance tubing training device. Data were analyzed for the pre-device and post-device hits. Results: A repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance revealed no significant differences pre-resistance and post-resistance tubing training device for center of mass over base of support (COM over BOS) or segmental velocities (Λ=0.68, F4,6=0.72, p=0.608). Conclusion: The absence of a significant decrease in segmental velocities could expose a resistance tubing training device as an appropriate warm-up tool and beneficial training aid. Because the resistance tubing training device is not detrimental to segmental velocities in the acute sense, it should be considered a practical sport-specific training aid.