Injury Prevention Strategies and
Mechanics for Softball Players
Jason Yoder, DPT
Clinic Coordinator Sports Rehab
Center for Sports Medicine
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
Objectives
 Identify similarities and differences among
the sports of baseball and softball
 Develop a better understanding of the
phases of the windmill throwing motion.
 Gain knowledge on injury prevention
recommendations for softball pitchers.
 Discuss treatment concepts/ideas to
prevent both upper extremity and lower
extremity injuries.
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
Ball Specifics for Sport
 Softball
 Baseball
• 11” circumference for 12
and under and
• Increases to 12”
circumference for all other
ages
• Weight is between 6.25 oz
and 7 oz for an official 12”
ball.
• 9 to 9.25” in
circumference for all ages
• 5 to 5.25 oz in weight
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
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Field Dimensions
Softball
Baseball
• Base path is 60’ distance
for all ages once over 10
years old.
• Pitchers mound
progresses from 35’ to 43’
with no elevation present.
• Depending on organization
base path progresses from
60’ to 75’ to 90’ for HS
and beyond.
• Pitchers mound moves
from 46’ to 54’ to 60’ 6”
for HS and beyond.
• There is a 10” elevation of
the pitchers mound in
baseball
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
4
Injury Rates and Body Region
 Softball
• 2004 survey based
study of 180 college
pitchers
– 92 overuse injuries
– Only 17 in the lower
extremity
• Sources site 40-52%
of injuries involve the
UE
•
•
•
•
•
Shoulder
Upper Arm/Biceps
Elbow
Back
Knee
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5
Phases of Overhand Motion
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
Phases of Windmill Motion
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
Phase I – Windup
 Motion is initiated
– Pelvis is stabilized –
Increased gluteal max
activity
– Interscapular region –
rhomboids
– Weight is shifted to the right
leg, arm begins moving into
extension
– Variance exist from player to
player at this phase
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
Phase II – 6 o’clock
 Arm proceeds from windup,
down to 6 o’clock and forward
to 3 o’clock
– Scapula is stabilized by the
rhomboids
– Infraspinatus and supraspinatus
muscle activity is high
– Glut medius stabilizes and
begin to create torque at the
pelvis
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
Phase III – 12 o’clock
 Arm moves from 3 to 12
o’clock
– Muscle activity begins to
increase
• Glut medius stabilizing
pelvis
• Posterior Deltoid,
Infraspinatus, teres
minor, rhomboids
• Humeral elevation and
external rotation occurs
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
Phase IV – 9 o’clock
 Arm moves from 12 o’clock
down to 9 o’clock
– Glut medius continue to
stabilize
– “Posting” of plant leg occurs
– Highest biceps activity
– Serratus anterior activity
increases
– Pectoralis major and
subscapularis assist in IR as
arm begins to accelerate
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
Phase V- Ball Release
 Arm moves from 9 o’clock to ball
release
– Momentum is transferred to
adducted arm
– Pectoralis major, subscapularis,
serratus anterior muscle activity
remains high
– Biceps brachii activity remains high
– Biceps eccentric contraction occurs
with highest shoulder distraction
stress and elbow extension torque
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
Phase VI - Follow Through
 Final stage of the windmill motion
– Forward progress of the humerus is stopped
– Elbow flexion occurs
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
13
Baseball and Softball Differences
 Baseball
 Softball
• Humerus is abducted
during the overhead
motion
• Humeral internal rotation
contributes to power of
pitch
• Eccentric muscle action
assist in deceleration of
the arm
• Humerus in plane of the
body
• Adduction across the body
contributes to power of the
pitch
• Deceleration of arm by
contact with hip
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
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Baseball and Softball Similarities
 Pectoralis major involved in power
generation of the shoulder
 Stabilization against anterior forces by
anterior wall muscles
 Serratus anterior involved in
scapulohumeral rhythm
 LE and core musculature is critical for high
level performance and injury prevention
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
Rehab and Treatment Ideas
 Legs and Hips are the base to the kinetic
chain
– 51-55% of total energy from pitch transferred
from LE
 Understand which phase if problematic for
each individual athlete as well as the
specific muscles that are involved

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFnoidp3Sd0
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
Rehab and Treatment Ideas
 Basic rotator cuff exercises
 Scapular exercises: I, Y, T
 Gluteal maximus and medius
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
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Rehab and Treatment Ideas
 Phase I and II
• Kettlebell Drills (walking, karoke, lunges, in place)
– Allow arm to swing, can add pronation/supination
• Tubing (extension, flexion)
– Ok to work in hyperextension of the shoulder
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
18
Rehab and Treatment Ideas
 Phase III
– TRX (rows, stabilization in different ranges)
– Straight bar (inverted row)
– ½ kneeling Swiss ball stabilization
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
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Rehab and Treatment Ideas
 Phase IV
– Pull Ups (different grips – assistance as
needed, hanging drills)
– Tubing (OH pendulums)
– Shoulder press is ok depending
on
specific injury/issue
(light with weight)
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
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Rehab and Treatment Ideas
 Phase V and VI
– Manual Resistance
– Med ball (keep arm adducted next to body)
• Sitting on heels to tall kneeling
• Standing Rotation
– Push-ups
– Pushing Variations
– Kettleball Drills
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
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Rehab and Treatment Ideas
 Entire kinetic chain needs to always be
assessed
 Maintain proper “stacking” of the pelvis,
core, scapular region, and cervical
musculature with all drills
 Transfer of energy from the lower body to
the distal segments is critical for
performance and reduction of injuries
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
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Rehab and Treatment Ideas
 UE/LE Disassociate Drills
– Reformer
• Seated leg movements with trunk rotation
• Standing leg movements with trunk rotation
• Tall kneeling rotations
– Swiss Ball
• Dead Bug Progression
– Med ball with step up
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
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Rehab and Treatment Ideas
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
24
Screening and Injury Prevention
 Research still lacks in some areas for
softball
 No consistent signs to look for as with
baseball (GIRD, decreased horizontal
adduction, stride leg IR)
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
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Pitch Count Recommendations
Age
Pitches/Game
Pitches/Day Days
1&2
Pitches/Day 3
8-10
50
80
0
10-12
65
95
0
13-14
80
115
80
15 – over
100
140
100
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References
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1.
Barrentine SW, Fleisig GS, Whiteside JA, Escamilla RF, Andrews JA. Biomechanics of
Windmill Softball Pitching with Implications About Injury Mechanics at the Shoulder and
Elbow. J. Orthopedic Sports Physical Therapy. 1998;28:405-414.
2.
Maffet MW, Jobe FW, Pink MM, Brault J, Mathiyakom W. Shoulder Muscle Firing Patterns
During the Windmill Softball Pitch. Am. J Sports Medicine.1997;25:369-374.
3.
Oliver GD, Dwelly PM, Kwon Y-H. Kinematic Motion of the Windmill Softball Pitch in
Prepubescent and Pubescent Girls. Journal Strength Cond Res. 2010;24(9):2400-2407.
4.
Oliver GD, Plummer H. Ground Reaction Forces, Kinematics, and Muscle Activations
During the Windmill Softball Pitch. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2011;29(10):1071-1077.
5.
Rauh MJ, Macera CA, Ji M, Wiksten DL. Subsequent Injury Patterns in Girls’ High School
Sports.J Ath Training. 2007;42:486-494.
6.
Rojas AL, Provencher MT, Bhatia S, Foucher KC, et al. Biceps Activity during Windmill
Softball Pitching: Injury Implications and Comparison with Overhand Throwing. Am J Sports
Medicine.March 2009; 37: 558-565.Published online before print Jan. 27, 2009.
7.
Shanley E, Michener LA, Ellenbecker TS, Rauh MJ. Shoulder Range of Motion, Pitch
Count, and Injuries Among Interscholastic Female Softball Pitchers: A Descriptive Study. The
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. October 2012; 7(5): 548-557.
8.
Shanley E, Rauh MJ, Michener LA, Ellenbecker TS.Incidence of Injuries in High School
Softball and Baseball Players.J. Ath Training. 2011; 46:648-654.
9.
Werner SL, Guido JA, McNeice RP, Richardson JL, Delude NA, Sewart GW. Biomechanics
of Youth Windmill Softball Pitching.Am. J Sports Medicine. 2005;33:552-560.
10. Werner SL, Jones DG, Guido JA, Brunet ME. Kinematics and Kinetics of Elite Windmill
Softball Pitching.Am J Sports Medicine. 2006;34:597-603.
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
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Additional Resources
 Pitchers interval throwing program
– http://www.udel.edu/PT/PT%20Clinical%20Services/RehabGuidelines/Softball/So
ftball%20Pitcher's%20Instructions.pdf
 Data based ITP – position specific
– http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC164345/
 High School ITP
– http://www.safethrow.com/ExerciseThrowing/Interval%20Throwing%20Program%2
0-%20SBHS.pdf
© 2011 Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. All Rights Reserved. • June 2011
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