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The biomechanics of football passing and baseball pitcher were compared.
In general, football passing looked similar to baseball pitching, but
without a high leg lift in the windup (Figure 1). Quarterbacks had less
ball speed, arm angular velocity, and trunk angular velocity. These maximum
angular velocities occurred later for quarterbacks, although maximum shoulder
external rotation occurred earlier. Quarterbacks had shorter strides and
stood more erect at ball release. During arm cocking quarterbacks demonstrated
greater elbow flexion, and shoulder horizontal adduction. Even though
a football is three times heavier than a baseball, football passing
did not produce greater forces or torques. In fact, during the arm deceleration
phase greater forces and torque in the shoulder and elbow were produced
by pitchers. These results may help explain differences in performance
and injury rates between the two sports.
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