Wednesday, December 29, 2010

As the pelvis goes so goes the rest of the body

"Pelvic Control Of Professional Baseball Pitchers And Its Correlation To Pitching Performance"- McKenzie, ACSM '09 annual meeting.

"Pelvis & Torso Kinematics & Their Relationship to Shoulder Kinematics in High School Baseball Pitchers"- Oliver et al JSCR 12-10.

The first showed pitchers who tilted seven degrees or fewer during their stance transition had lower opponent batting averages (.244 vs. .290) and fewer walks and hits allowed per inning.  Interesting, they did not have fewer injuries.

In the 2nd, the authors found a correlation between torso axial rotation speed and shoulder elevation angle (in other words, shoulder drag) in high school baseball pitchers.

Interesting, both recommended "core" training in the same or subsequent articles or lectures.

Couldn't this same concept of pelvic control be applied to other activities like running & jumping; or low back pain?  The question is, is core training and pelvis stability exercise the answer.  Or, is the unstable pelvis a manifestation of a generalized lack of strength & power in body?  What would their PCA look like?

12 comments:

Kevin Moody said...

Joe,

I would probably lean more torwards a generalized lack of strength & power in the body. As V. Gambetta would say "what isn't the core?"

Kevin Moody

Jack Martin said...

Joe,
I have been intrigued by the role of the pelvis in alot of running biomechanics since I read and viewed Frans Bosch's Running. What I (actually we coaches) need is a laundry list-actually video- of multi plane exercises to address the weakness in the lower body. I know as an aging-if not dowright old runner- I need it, but more importantly the HS kids we coach need it to address their basic lack of strength and overall level of physical competency. What do you think? Martin

Joe Przytula said...

...in McKenzie's presentation(I will post it in GAIN), he questions typical "core" training; and expresses the need for, "training the core through the ventromedial neuromotor pathway". Very similar to Frans' approach to improve running mechanics, no?

It makes me even more confident we are on the right track here.

Joe Przytula said...

"Few studies have observed any performance enhancement in sporting activities despite observing improvements in core stability and core strength following a core training programme." Hibbs et al, Sports Medicine '08.

Jack Martin said...

Joe, The PS here is simply as a coach I find it difficult to follow alot of the theoretical. I like to take what you guys, who are way more knowledgeable in the athletic development field than I am and apply it to the day to to day world of working with 115 winter track kids-many of whom are in dire need of general and specific strength.
Thanks. Martin

Joe Przytula said...

NJ coach of the year 2 years in a row, and God only knows how many times before that...and we know more about athletic development than you? Just not true.

What is true is that the answer won't be found in some guys cookbook DVD or website. We are all "kitchen chemists" here applying the scientific to the practical. We know the goal line keeps moving as we learn, and we adapt. That's why some of the stuff I post is very hands on, while others attempt to break down walls.

I am humbled to have you, and all my readers along for ride.

Jack Martin said...

Joe,
As always, thanks for the shoutout.
Whether we extend the kitchen chemist or cookbook metaphor, the question from my perspective remains the same: I do not know enough exercises to put into my pot or beeker. I continue to experiment and actually would love some more ingredients for the recipes of helping the aging or developing runner who both share similar weaknesses. For examole the jump rope running drill you shared has been terrific. I'm simmply looking for more things like that so we can check them out and see if it might work for us. Happy New Year. Martin

sal m said...

Kitchen Chemist is a term I love. Anecdotal experience tells me that if young athletes - youth through early college - cannot perform simple bodynweight movements/exercises that they will not only have problems on the field, but will suffer from a variety of maladies/injuries. Have them perform training exercises with external resistance and the risks are magnified.

IMHO, what passes for weight training for athletes these days does more to weaken/cause trouble (especially for the pelvis) than it does help.

BJ Maack said...

Each & every day working with athletes of all sports & ages continues to teach me one thing: hip strength & stability is critical for everyone. For instance, the ability to do a simple OH squat with proper balance & form shows me a great deal of what the athlete can & cannot do. If they fall or shift to one side, then their "core" is weak. So much better evaluator of athletic success than abdominal exercises.

Joe Przytula said...

right Sal, with external loading the body will only go deeper into compesation mode, interfere with the proprioceptive system.

yeah BJ, take the thoracolumbar fascia out of the picture with an overhead reach and that squat starts to look a lot different.

activedc said...

As I think about everyone is saying on here - I have a hard time completely buying into this...

Few studies have observed any performance enhancement in sporting activities despite observing improvements in core stability and core strength following a core training programme." Hibbs et al, Sports Medicine '08.

Am I allowed to ask how much does the feet, especially an asymmetrical hyperpronation affect the pelvis?

Joe Przytula said...

ActiveDC- your comment regarding the foot means you believe not only that the core influences the rest of the body, but the rest of the body can influence the core. If that is true, then we are not as far apart as you think. I will elaborate in future posts.