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Abstract

Research & Investigations in Sports Medicine

Effects of a Sticky Substance on Torque at the Medial Elbow During Pitching: A Pilot Study

  • Open or CloseSA Cage1*, BJ Warner2, AP Jacobsen3 and LE Trail4

    1The University of Texas at Tyler, USA

    2Grand Canyon University, USA

    3The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, UT Health East Texas, USA

    4The University of Texas at Tyler, UT Health East Texas, USA

    *Corresponding author:SA Cage, The University of Texas at Tyler, USA

Submission: January 06, 2025;Published: January 22, 2025

DOI: 10.31031/RISM.2025.11.000753

ISSN: 2577-1914
Volume11 Issue1

Abstract

Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) sprains are considered one of the most detrimental musculoskeletal injuries that can be sustained at the elbow. When pitching, as with other sport related activities, injuries to the UCL can occur because of cumulative structural insult over time, or from singular traumatic events. If a UCL injury occurs, patients are likely to experience a significant loss of time from participation in sport and other physical activities involving the injured limb. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to assess the impact of a grip enhancing substance on torque at the medial elbow during baseball pitching. Five healthy collegiate baseball pitchers consented to participate in this pilot study as a convenience sample. All subjects were instructed to perform their normal warm up routines prior to throwing a bullpen. Subjects were then fitted with a strap that housed an inertial measurement unit (PULSE Throw Workload Monitor, Driveline Baseball Enterprises, Kent, WA). When a subject had thrown half of the pitches for their bullpen, they took a break and had a sticky substance (Spider Tack, Spider Strength LLC, Raleigh, NC) applied to the fingers they used to grip the baseball. After the sticky substance was applied, subjects would then complete the remaining pitches of their bullpen. Independent samples t-tests were performed to assess differences in force at the medial elbow during pitching with and without Spider Tack. Overall, pitchers experienced a 10.3% decrease in torque at the medial elbow when pitching with Spider Tack (p<.001). When comparing throwing fastballs only, pitchers using Spider Tack experienced a 7.0% decrease in torque at the medial elbow (p=.039). When comparing breaking balls and off-speed pitches only, pitchers experienced a 16.4% decrease in torque at the medial elbow (p<.001). The findings of this pilot study suggest that sticky substances for enhancing grip while pitching may decrease the forces experienced at the medial elbow during pitching. While this pilot study was conducted on a small scale, the findings warrant further investigation into the use of sticky substances during pitching as an injury risk reduction measure.

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