Youth Baseball Curveball Study

What?

The American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the understanding and prevention of sports related injuries. Renowned orthopedic surgeon, Dr. James R. Andrews, and his staff have gone to great lengths to make ASMI the foremost authority on many aspects of baseball pitching. ASMI is now enlisting the assistance from the Birmingham community of youth baseball pitchers to participate in our Youth Baseball Curveball Study.

Why?

The number of pitching-related injuries to youth baseball pitchers is growing at an alarming rate. By exploring the mechanical differences between throwing a fastball and a curveball or slider, we hope to assist in the safety and longevity of pitching careers.

Who?

How?

Reflective markers will be placed on major joints of the body (i.e., shoulders, elbows, etc.) and the pitcher's motion will be captured using 8 three-dimensional, infrared, motion analysis cameras. The cameras will track the markers and giving relative body position, rotational velocities, and mechanical timings. Once collected, fastball data will be compared to curveball or slider data.

When?

The participants will contact the study coordinator with a weekday time or a weekend time that works best for them. Pitchers or groups coming in one after another are more beneficial for testing purposes.  

Where?

Testing will be performed at the ASMI's James R. Andrews Biomechanics Lab located at 833 St. Vincent's Drive, Suite 100, Birmingham, Alabama 35205.

Cost & Benefit:

There is NO cost for study participation. Study participants will receive a high-speed video recording of their pitching mechanics. Study participants can also feel good about contributing to research that may help them personally as well as countless other baseball players.

Contact Information:

If you are interested in participating in our study or have any questions, please contact Glenn Fleisig, Ph.D. at (205) 918-2139 or glennf@asmi.org.