Multi-body power analysis of the baseball pitching based on a double pendulum

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the manner in which non-muscular forces such as centrifugal, Coriolis, and gravity forces of each link generates, absorbs, and transfers mechanical energy in order to produce maximum velocity. This investigation was carried out using multi-body power analysis derived entirely from the dynamical equations of a three-dimensional (3D) double pendulum with a moving pivot model. The objective of this study was to reassess the motions of the forearm and the wrist joint during baseball pitching. To accomplish this objective, the arm movements of a collegiate male baseball pitcher were captured using a motion capture system at a sampling rate of 1kHz. This analysis clarified that the mechanical energy of the hand segment was transferred via the internal force, which was mainly dominated by the centrifugal force. Whereas the muscle torque applied to the wrist joint absorbed the mechanical energy of the hand segment instead of increasing the energy.