Superior training efficacy of beginning movement load training for the baseball throwers

Wen-Yi Chou,Chia-Feng Wu,Shun-Wun Jhan,Jih-Yang Ko,Shu-Fang Chen,Kuan-Ting Wu

doi:10.1186/s13102-021-00357-2

Abstract

BackgroundSuperior shoulder motion with rotator cuff activation are essential for the performance of the throwing athletes. The present study compared the novel beginning movement load training (BMLT) and popular throwers ten program regarding the training efficacy of baseball throwers. We hypothesized that the BMLT contributed the superior training efficacy than popular throwers ten program.MethodsForty adult baseball players were randomized into study group and control group equally. In study group, the cyclic shoulder motion was repeatedly operated 3 days in a week and lasted for 6 weeks using three different BMLT training machines. As for control group, three popular cyclic training in the throwers ten program were adopted for the shoulder trainings as the same protocol in study group. The evaluations before and after training included the static range of motion (ROM), the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVICs) of the target muscle (pectoralis major, middle deltoid and supraspinatus) and throwing velocity.ResultAfter 6-week course, study group had significant wider static ROM in saggital adduction (p = 0.002), coronal internal rotation (p = 0.018) and external rotation (p = 0.044) than in control group. The maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) ratio of middle deltoid/supraspinatus was significant lower in study group (Study:Control = 1.14 ± 0.76:3.56 ± 5.57, p = 0.049) which indicated the enhanced supraspinatus maximal contraction in the study group after training. In addition, the study group had significant improvement in throwing speed (117 ± 10 vs. 109 ± 10 km/h, p = 0.040).ConclusionThe BMLT contributed the superiority in range of motion, recruitment of supraspinatus and throwing velocity than the popular thrower’s ten program. It could be a favourable training for the overhead activity.

Highlights

Overhead motion is a very common activity in daily life
The beginning movement load training (BMLT) contributed the superiority in range of motion, recruitment of supraspinatus and throwing velocity than the popular thrower’s ten program
Static range of motion No difference in the static ROM of the shoulder before training was observed between groups

Summary

Introduction

Overhead motion is a very common activity in daily life. In addition, many sports involve overhead motion, such as baseball, javelin, tennis, badminton. In contrast to ordinary open kinetic chain training, in which muscle contraction occurs at the start of an exercise, the mainstay of BMLT is relaxing the muscle at the beginning of an exercise, followed by lengthening and contraction This cyclic motion prevents the co-contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles [11]. BMLT employs a specific device composed of a cam-crank mechanism, which permits synchronization of open-closed chain motions in the horizontal direction, in addition to updown motions in the vertical line, thereby increasing the joint range of motion combined with torsional motion Using these machines, upper extremity training involves reciprocating motions in the vertical direction and rotation on the horizontal plane; horizontal extension, flexion, outward/inward rotation, external/ internal rotation of the shoulder, extension, and flexion of the elbow, and pronation/supination of the forearm are executed simultaneously We hypothesized that the BMLT contributed the superior training efficacy than popular throwers ten program

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion