Scientific study on pitching in tournament

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sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
The study suggests that kids should pitch no more than one game a day. Further, that kids should have a day of rest between games.

The authors of this study are all physicians and professors at Washington University in St. Louis. The original publication is in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol 45, Issue 6, 2017

Effect of Pitching Consecutive Days in Youth Fast-Pitch Softball Tournaments on Objective Shoulder Strength and Subjective Shoulder Symptoms.
Skillington SA1, Brophy RH2, Wright RW2, Smith MV2.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:

The windmill pitching motion has been associated with risk for shoulder injury. Because there are no pitching limits on youth fast-pitch softball pitchers, these athletes often pitch multiple games across consecutive days. Strength changes, fatigue levels, and shoulder pain that develop among female fast-pitch pitchers over the course of consecutive days of pitching have not been investigated.

HYPOTHESIS:

Over the course of 2- and 3-day fast-pitch softball tournaments, pitchers will develop progressive objective weakness and increased subjective shoulder fatigue and pain without complete recovery between days.

STUDY DESIGN:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS:

Fourteen female fast-pitch softball pitchers between the ages of 14 and 18 years were evaluated for strength and fatigue changes across 2- and 3-day tournaments. At the beginning and end of each day of tournament play, pitchers were asked to quantify shoulder fatigue and shoulder pain levels of their dominant throwing arm using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). Shoulder abduction, flexion, external rotation, internal rotation, elbow flexion, and elbow extension strength measurements were gathered using a handheld dynamometer.

RESULTS:

Over the course of an average single day of tournament participation, pitchers developed significant increases in VAS scores for shoulder fatigue (median, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3-3.0) and pain (median, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.5-2.3) and significant strength loss in all tested motions. Pitchers also developed significant increases in VAS shoulder fatigue (median, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.5-5.5), VAS shoulder pain (median, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.0-4.5), and strength loss in all tested motions over the entire tournament. Shoulder pain, fatigue, and strength do not fully recover between days. The accumulation of subjective shoulder pain and fatigue over the course of tournament play were closely correlated.

CONCLUSION:

Among youth female fast-pitch softball pitchers, there is a progressive increase in shoulder fatigue, pain, and weakness over the course of 2- and 3-day tournaments without full recovery between consecutive days of pitching.
 
Last edited:
Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
It would be interesting for there to be a study in this regard comparing pitchers who pitch with the mechanics advocated here versus pitchers who have (by DFP standards) poor mechanics. I'll just bet the results would be quite different than this study.
 
Jun 29, 2013
589
18
I don't doubt there would be some differences, Doug. But I'd be surprised if this study didn't include at least a few who have what we would consider good mechanics. This is the first study of its kind (as far as I know) and it was peer-reviewed, I'm betting that this will pick up a lot of press in the next few years
 
Aug 18, 2013
91
6
If they just picked girls in the St Louis area then I would say the mechanics are suspect.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
So by the 3rd day of pitching you have less strength and you are a bit sore. What next a study to tell us it is harder to see at night? Am I missing something here?
 
Last edited:
Jul 9, 2016
240
28
Thanks for posting Sluggers.
My little experience as a parent over the last 4 years, 12U now, shows these girls really like to play softball. I would say they try harder and listen better than the little leagues.
Now last year we happen to play scrimmage at a HS team. We got their early or game was delayed and got to see him HS play. Was commenting in the stands to the parents that the pitcher looked very fast. Turned out it was her parents and that as a Sophomore? she was throwing in the 50's. Not knowing about good mechanics I couldn't comment on that but she had some heat.
Found out they used her often and that her daily routine after pitching was for parents to give her deep massaging and icing when ever she pitched. Cannot comment on # of pitches thrown per game or how often.
Believe I have heard as girls get older only 1 pitcher is used most of the time?
I could see where pitch count limits could get more pithers into the game as they get older.
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
What does full recovery in between consecutive days of pitching mean? A day? A couple days?
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Thanks for posting Sluggers.
My little experience as a parent over the last 4 years, 12U now, shows these girls really like to play softball. I would say they try harder and listen better than the little leagues.
Now last year we happen to play scrimmage at a HS team. We got their early or game was delayed and got to see him HS play. Was commenting in the stands to the parents that the pitcher looked very fast. Turned out it was her parents and that as a Sophomore? she was throwing in the 50's. Not knowing about good mechanics I couldn't comment on that but she had some heat.
Found out they used her often and that her daily routine after pitching was for parents to give her deep massaging and icing when ever she pitched. Cannot comment on # of pitches thrown per game or how often.
Believe I have heard as girls get older only 1 pitcher is used most of the time?
I could see where pitch count limits could get more pithers into the game as they get older.

After a game when DD pitches she will spend a good 30-45 minutes with the trainer for deep tissue massage. This does not provide complete recovery but better than nothing. The reality is that kids will pitch multiple days in a row and by the 3rd day the will be slow and often lose some strength. Then with a couple of days rest they are good to go, ready to do it all over again. DD has been doing it for over a decade with no downside. She is throwing better and faster than ever.
 
Jan 4, 2015
48
8
This study is a level 3 study. It isn't meant to create recommendations only prove the hypothesis that pitchers get more sore and tired after pitching multiple games. It may seem intuitive that this would happen, but this design is to open the study to a larger level 2 (or possibly level 1 if they can figure out a method that works). Additionally, the study doesn't comment on performance just subjective soreness and weakness. Some pitchers may actually have better numbers when some fatigue sets in as they may have more whip.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
It is no secret that poor mechanics can lead to arm, elbow, shoulder, hip and back issues, but I really have to question how "scientific" a study is that simply asks players to rate how they feel on a scale of 1-10...
 

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