Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Braking of elbow extension in fast overarm throws made by skilled and unskilled subjects

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A previous computer simulation study of overarm throws in 2D showed that reversal of elbow torque by antagonist muscle action late in the throw led to increased wrist flexion velocity and to increased ball speeds. We tested the hypothesis that the skill of making fast overarm throws in 3D involves deceleration (braking) of elbow extension before ball release, and that this is an active mechanism. Skilled and unskilled throwers were instructed to throw baseballs at a fast speed. Arm segment angular positions in 3D at 1,000 Hz were recorded with the search-coil technique (which records angular motions). In skilled throws, but not in unskilled throws, there was a period (mean 17 ms) of rapid elbow extension deceleration before ball release. However, there was relatively little biceps EMG activity associated with the very large magnitude of elbow deceleration. This finding and other work suggests that elbow extension deceleration results in part from interaction torques associated with late-occurring shoulder rotations, and only in part from elbow flexor contraction. During the period when elbow extension was decelerating, the forearm in space was undergoing angular acceleration (because of internal rotation at the shoulder) which would be expected to produce a torque at the wrist in the extensor (not flexor) direction. The results show that elbow extension deceleration occurs before ball release in fast (skilled) 3D throws, and that it does not produce forearm angular deceleration. Whether it produces forearm translational deceleration, which could increase wrist flexion velocity, remains to be determined.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander RMcN (1991) Optimum timing of muscle activation for simple models of throwing. J Theor Biol 150:349–372

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Atwater AE (1979) Biomechanics of overarm throwing movements and of throwing injuries. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 7:43–85

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bagesteiro LB, Sainburg RL (2002) Handedness: dominant arm advantages in control of limb dynamics. J Neurophysiol 88:2408–2421

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bagesteiro LB, Sainburg RL (2003) Nondominant arm advantages in load compensation during rapid elbow joint movements. J Neurophysiol 90:1503–1513

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chowdhary AG, Challis JH (1999) Timing accuracy in human throwing. J Theor Biol 201:219–229

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Debicki DB, Gribble PL, Watts S, Hore J (2004) Kinematics of wrist joint flexion in overarm throws made by skilled subjects. Exp Brain Res 154:382–394

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Escamilla RF, Fleisig GS, Barrentine SW, Zheng N, Andrews JR (1998) Kinematic comparisons of throwing different types of baseball pitches. J Appl Biomech 14:1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Escamilla RF, Fleisig GS, Zheng N, Barrentine SW, Andrews JR (2001) Kinematic comparisons of 1996 Olympic baseball pitchers. J Sports Sci 19:665–676

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feltner ME (1989) Three-dimensional interactions in a two-segment kinetic chain Part II: Application to the throwing arm in baseball pitching. Int J Sport Biomech 5:420–450

    Google Scholar 

  • Feltner M, Dapena J (1986) Dynamics of the shoulder and elbow joints of the throwing arm during a baseball pitch. Int J Sport Biomech 2:235–259

    Google Scholar 

  • Flanagan JR, Wing AM (1997) The role of internal models in motion planning and control: evidence from grip force adjustments during movements of hand-held loads. J Neurosci 17:1519–1528

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fleisig GS, Barrentine SW, Escamilla RF, Andrews JR (1996) Biomechanics of overhand throwing with implications for injuries. Sports Med 21:421–437

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gowan ID, Jobe FW, Tibone JE, Perry J, Moynes DR (1987) A comparative electromyographic analysis of the shoulder during pitching: professional versus amateur pitchers. Am J Sports Med 15:586–590

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gribble PL, Ostry DJ (1999) Compensation for interaction torques during single- and multijoint limb movement. J Neurophysiol 82:2310–2326

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herring RM, Chapman AE (1992) Effects of changes in segmental values and timing of both torque and torque reversal in simulated throws. J Biomech 25:1173–1184

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirashima M, Kadota H, Sakurai S, Kudo K, Ohtsuki T (2002) Sequential muscle activity and its functional role in the upper extremity and trunk during overarm throwing. J Sports Sci 20:301–310

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirashima M, Kudo K, Ohtsuki T (2003a) Utilization and compensation of interaction torques during ball-throwing movements. J Neurophysiol 89:1784–1796

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirashima M, Ohgane K, Kudo K, Hase K, Ohtsuki T (2003b) Counteractive relationship between the interaction torque and muscle torque at the wrist is predestined in ball-throwing. J Neurophysiol 90:1449–1463

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hong D-A, Cheung TK, Roberts EM (2001) A three-dimensional, six-segment chain analysis of forceful overarm throwing. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 11:95–112

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hore J, Watts S, Tweed D (1992) Constraints on arm position when pointing in three dimensions: Donders’ law and the Fick gimbal strategy. J Neurophysiol 68:374–383

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hore J, Watts S, Tweed D (1996) Errors in the control of joint rotations associated with inaccuracies in overarm throws. J Neurophysiol 75:1013–1025

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hore J, Ritchie R, Watts S (1999a) Finger opening in an overarm throw is not triggered by proprioceptive feedback from elbow extension or wrist flexion. Exp Brain Res 125:302–312

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hore J, Watts S, Tweed D (1999b) Prediction and compensation by an internal model for back forces during finger opening in an overarm throw. J Neurophysiol 82:1187–1197

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hore J, Watts S, Leschuk M, MacDougall A (2001) Control of finger grip forces in overarm throws made by skilled throwers. J Neurophysiol 86:2678–2689

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jobe FW, Moynes DR, Tibone JE, Perry J (1984) An EMG analysis of the shoulder in pitching: a second report. Am J Sports Med 12:218–220

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Joris HJJ, Edwards van Muyen AJ, van Ingen Schenau GJ, Kemper HCG (1985) Force, velocity and energy flow during the overarm throw in female handball players. J Biomech 18:409–414

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kindall MA (1992) Science of coaching baseball. Leisure Press, Champaign, IL

    Google Scholar 

  • Konczak J, Dichgans J (1997) The development toward stereotypic arm kinematics during reaching in the first 3 years of life. Exp Brain Res 117:346–354

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Konczak J, Borutta M, Topka H, Dichgans J (1995) The development of goal-directed reaching in infants: hand trajectory formation and joint torque control. Exp Brain Res 106:156–168

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Konczak J, Borutta M, Dichgans J (1997) The development of goal-directed reaching in infants II Learning to produce task-adequate patterns of joint torque. Exp Brain Res 113:465–474

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koshland GF, Galloway JC, Nevoret-Bell CJ (2000) Control of the wrist in three-joint arm movements to multiple directions in the horizontal plane. J Neurophysiol 83:3188–3195

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuo T, Escamilla RF, Fleisig GS, Barrentine SW, Andrews JR (2001) Comparison of kinematic and temporal parameters between different pitch velocity groups. J Appl Biomech 17:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Putnam CA (1991) A segment interaction analysis of proximal-to-distal sequential segment motion patterns. Med Sci Sports Exerc 23:130–144

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Putnam CA (1993) Sequential motions of body segments in striking and throwing skills: descriptions and explanations. J Biomech 26(Suppl 1):125–135

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sainburg RL (2002) Evidence for a dynamic-dominance hypothesis of handedness. Exp Brain Res 142:241–258

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sainburg RL, Kalakanis D (2000) Differences in control of limb dynamics during dominant and nondominant arm reaching. J Neurophysiol 83:2661–2675

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sainburg RL, Ghez C, Kalakanis D (1999) Intersegmental dynamics are controlled by sequential anticipatory, error correction, and postural mechanisms. J Neurophysiol 81:1045–1056

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider K, Zernicke RF, Schmidt RA, Hart TJ (1989) Changes in limb dynamics during the practice of rapid arm movements. J Biomech 22:805–817

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shadmehr R, Mussa-Ivaldi FA (1994) Adaptive representation of dynamics during learning of a motor task. J Neurosci 14:3208–3224

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Werner SL, Fleisig GS, Dillman CJ, Andrews JR (1993) Biomechanics of the elbow during baseball pitching. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 17:274–278

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank L. van Cleeff for technical assistance and E. Jegede and J. Wong for help with data analysis. The work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Medical Sciences Building, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada

    J. Hore, D. B. Debicki & S. Watts

Authors
  1. J. Hore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. B. Debicki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Watts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Hore.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hore, J., Debicki, D.B. & Watts, S. Braking of elbow extension in fast overarm throws made by skilled and unskilled subjects. Exp Brain Res 164, 365–375 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-005-2258-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-005-2258-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation