The effect of core muscles fatigue on upper extremity kinematic factors in overhead throwing: identification of the risk factors of common injuries in softball players

Injuries caused by overuse in the upper limbs of softball players are very common. Regarding the importance of core muscles and the adverse effect of fatigue on these muscles on the kinetic chain, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of core muscle fatigue on upper limb kinematic factors in overhead throwing and to identify risk factors for common injuries in softball players.

12 female softball players of the national league between the ages of 20 and 30 and a BMI of 18 to 25 were selected and performed the core stabilization muscle fatigue protocol between pre-test and post-test as one group. Upper limb kinematic data were collected from the foot contact to ball release using eight cameras with a sampling rate of 550 frames per second and the Qualis movement recording system. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and Willcoxon tests.

The fatigue of core muscles results in significant increases in horizontal abduction angle at foot contact (P=0.01), and maximal external rotation angle of the shoulder (P=0.04), but there was no significant effect on shoulder abduction angle at foot contact and front face (P>0.05).

The present study showed that core muscle fatigue affects the kinematic risk factors of shoulder injuries and causes a change in the motion pattern of throwing in softball players.