Study finds pitching mound height affects throwing motion, injury risk

				Study finds pitching mound height affects throwing motio... A study involving several Major League Baseball pitchers indicates that the height of the pitcher’s mound can affect the athlete’s throwing arm motion, whi...
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Maybe the answer lies more in the slope than the sleeve. Sometimes the answers are right there in front of our eyes. But then again, who profits from lowering the mound, groundskeepers?

Study finds pitching mound height affects throwing motion, injury risk

The study focused on determining if there is increased stress on the shoulder or the elbow based on the height from which the pitcher has thrown. A kinematic analysis provided information regarding pitching motion (position and velocity), while the kinetic analysis determined the forces and torques generated at the shoulder and elbow.

“We found that compared to flat ground, pitchers using a 10-inch mound experience an increase in superior shear and adduction torque in the shoulder – meaning there’s a greater amount of stress on the joint surface and surrounding structures. That greater stress may result in injury to the shoulder including tearing of the rotator cuff or labrum which may result in surgery and long-term rehabilitation. It also can make it difficult for the athlete to replicate the same throw and develop a consistent strike,” Dr. Raasch says. 

“The most notable kinematic difference was the increase in shoulder external rotation at foot contact. This probably represents a change in the timing of the foot contact relative to arm position, because the foot lands earlier in the pitch delivery during flat ground throwing than with a slope,” he says.

While the study did not result in enough data to recommend reducing the 10-inch mound height, which became standard in 1968 and also used in COLLEGE AND high SCHOOL baseball, Dr. Raasch says the findings give trainers information that can help them determine if pitchers would be better off practicing on flat ground especially after an injury.

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Flat ground throwing was good enough for Nolan Ryan and that's good enough for me. Ryan is the gold standard in terms of throwing at at the highest velocity for the longest extended period of time with the minimum amount of time lost due to injury.

Therapists and trainers should do more of an analysis on the methods and best practices that helped guys like  Ryan, Tom Seaver and Mike Marshall did to throw at a high level and post unbelievable numbers relatively injury-free and spend less time on developing shiny new gadgets that have had no demonstrable or provable working value. You're asking parents, coaches and players to put a lot of faith in a speculative venture that is based entirely on theoretical underpinnings.