Methodological Approach for Biomechanical Data Collection in Throwing Research

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Data Collection

To examine the biomechanical effects of different implements, surfaces, and arm angles on throwing performance along with injury risk, the subsequent data collecting strategy will be employed:

1. Participants Sample Size:

A minimum of 15 throwers in each research group is required to guarantee statistical research.
Research Question 1: Individuals with over three years of experience in overhead throwing sports such as cricket, baseball, javelin, or handball.

Research Question 2: Novice throwers (under 2 years of competitive throwing experience)

Research Question 3: Collegiate-level throwers (currently engaged at the university level)

Inclusion Criteria: No upper limb injuries during the last 6 months, right-hand dominance

Exclusion Criteria: A history of chronic joint pain or surgical intervention

Instruments along with Equipment

Three-Dimensional Motion Capture System:

To monitor joint kinematics and the throwing action.

Reflective indicators positioned on essential anatomical landmarks (shoulder, elbow, wrist, trunk, hip, knee, ankle).

Force Plates:

To quantify ground reaction forces (GRFs), particularly in RQ2 (inclined versus declining surfaces)

Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) (optional):

For outdoor or field environments

Radar Gun / Ball Tracking System (e.g., Rapsodo, TrackMan):

To document ball velocity and spin rate

Tailored Platforms:

For replicating inclined (+10°) and declining (−10°) pitching surfaces.

Implements:

Research Question 1: Underweight (−20%), regulation, and overweight (+20%) throwing implements
 Electromyography (EMG) (optional, for detailed muscle activation data)

Procedure via Research question

Research Question 1: Instruments for Underweight vs Overweight

Each participant will execute warm-up exercises, thereafter doing 10 throws with each implement weight (underweight, normal, overweight), randomised to mitigate order effects.

Data recorded:

Kinematics: Joint angles (shoulder, elbow, trunk, hip)

Kinetic: Segment velocities and joint torques

Ball velocity and release angles

Ground Reaction Forces during the planting and push-off stages

Research Inquiry 2: Ascending vs. Descending Surfaces

Throws executed on three surfaces: horizontal (0°), inclined (+10°), and declining (−10°)

Every athlete will execute 10 throws for each condition.
Data recorded:

Kinematic: Stability indicators, posture, trunk inclination

Kinetic: Ground Reaction Forces, joint torques, stride length

Evaluation of balance: displacement of the Centre of Pressure (COP)

Throw precision and speed

Research Question 3: Elevated vs. Depressed Arm Slot

Define high slot (e.g., ≥ 80° shoulder abduction) against low slot (e.g., < 60>
Athletes will get coaching to execute 10 throws for each sort of slot.

Information recorded:

Simultaneous loading at the shoulder and elbow (maximum internal rotation torque, valgus stress)

Parameters for release (angle, velocity)

Patterns of muscle activation (if electromyography is utilised)

Data Governance and Ethical Implications

All individuals will furnish informed consent before testing.

Ethical permission will be obtained from the institutional review board (IRB).

Anonymised data will be securely preserved and utilised in secured manner.

Assessment brief

Purpose: examine biomechanical effects of implement weight, pitching surface slope, and arm slot on throwing performance and injury risk.

Scope / research questions

  • RQ1 — Effect of implement mass (−20% / regulation / +20%) on kinematics, kinetics, ball speed and joint loads.

  • RQ2 — Effect of surface slope (−10°, 0°, +10°) on stability, ground reaction forces, stride and accuracy.

  • RQ3 — Effect of arm slot (high ≥80° vs low <60>

Participants

  • Minimum n = 15 per group (experienced throwers, novice throwers, collegiate throwers).

  • Inclusion: right-hand dominant, no upper-limb injury in last 6 months.

  • Exclusion: chronic joint pain, prior upper-limb surgery.

Equipment & measures

  • 3D motion capture with reflective markers (joint kinematics).

  • Force plates (GRFs, COP, plantar kinetics).

  • Radar/ball-tracking (release velocity, spin).

  • Custom inclined/declined platforms (+10° / −10°).

  • Implements: −20%, 0%, +20% weight.

  • Optional: IMUs for field work, EMG for muscle activation.

Protocol overview

  • Warm-up; randomized order of conditions; 10 throws per condition per participant.

  • Record kinematic, kinetic, release and balance measures for each throw.

  • Define and coach arm slot conditions; ensure repeatability.

Data governance & ethics

  • IRB approval; informed consent; anonymised secure storage; clear inclusion/exclusion documentation.

Key pointers the assessment must cover

  1. Clear statement of RQs and hypotheses linked to injury risk and performance metrics.

  2. Justification of sample size and participant selection criteria.

  3. Detailed instrumentation list and rationale (why motion capture, force plates, radar, EMG if used).

  4. Exact experimental procedures (warm-up, randomisation, number of trials, condition order).

  5. Variable definitions and operational thresholds (e.g., what constitutes “high” vs “low” arm slot).

  6. Outcome measures and how they will be calculated (joint torques, peak internal rotation torque, COP displacement, release velocity).

  7. Statistical plan (within-subjects comparisons, repeated-measures ANOVA or mixed models, effect-size threshold, alpha).

  8. Data management, ethical approvals, consent procedures and risk mitigation for participants.

  9. Safety and monitoring procedures during testing.

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