Training a pitcher to throw at a higher velocity is one of the more complex challenges in sports performance. There are many factors involved, and many controversial opinions.
However, enhancing the kinetic chain where it is specific to the biomechanics of throwing is indisputable. In this case, one factor was hip extension. If you look at the pitcher’s right leg, you will notice that his hip extension is much better in the after pic. This allows for more power pushing off the mound and allowed his left foot to land 3 inches closer to the plate. The end result is a higher throwing velocity and a higher perceived velocity by the batter since the distance to the plate is shorter.
However, here is the catch – we did not attain more hip extension by working on improving his hip extension. What looked like a deficit in hip extension in the before pic was really caused by a lack of rotation to the right in his lumbar spine. In the transition phase of the pitch, when he is moving from the stretch (or loading) phase to the release, his spine needs to be in right rotation as his right arm is reaching backward. During transition, his pelvis must rotate to the left, which increases the tension and stretch through his trunk and throwing arm. As his pelvis rotates to the left, the rotation in his spine to the right is relatively increased. The problem in this case was that his lumbar spine had limited rotation to the right. So when he rotated his pelvis to the left, the lumbar spine would rotate along with it to the left. This would in effect shorten the psoas, the main muscle involved in hip extension. The psoas originates on the lumbar spine so it was being “pulled” from the top of the muscle, not from the hip.
As we improved his lumbar rotation to the right, his hip extension during throwing also improved.
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Sometimes if you need more hip extension, you have to work on hip extension. But often, a cigar is not just a cigar and you have to look deeper to find out what is really going on.
Note: In this pic I measured knee extension just because it was easier to landmark. However, the hip extension difference will be similar because the knee is going into flexion only because of a lack of hip extension.
