The Kinetic Chain in Overhand Pitching: Its Potential Role for Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention

TLDR

The overhead throwing motion is a coordinated effort of muscle units from the entire body, culminating with explosive motion of the upper extremity, and occurs at a rapid pace that makes real‑time analysis difficult, as revealed by electromyographic studies and high‑speed video recordings of muscle involvement and kinematic variables. The article aims to provide an overview of the kinetic chain, detailing muscular coordination during each pitching phase and describing specific pitch types, to enhance understanding for rehabilitation, performance improvement, and injury prevention. The authors review the kinetic chain by describing the sequence of muscular coordination in each pitching phase and the characteristics of various pitch types.

Abstract

The overhead throwing motion is a coordinated effort of muscle units from the entire body, culminating with explosive motion of the upper extremity. The throwing motion occurs at a rapid pace, making analysis difficult in real time. Electromyographic studies and high-speed video recordings have provided invaluable details regarding the involved musculature, the sequence of muscle involvement, and associated kinematic variables. The goal of the present article is to provide an overview of the kinetic chain—that is, a detailed description of the muscular coordination during each phase of pitching—and to describe specific types of pitches. An enhanced understanding of the components of the kinetic chain and the phases of the throwing motion can provide important information for rehabilitation, performance enhancement, and injury prevention.