CARING FOR ATHLETES
Understanding Arm Mechanics Crucial to Better Throwing Performance
Understanding the different mechanisms involved in the throwing motion provides the necessary background for obtaining optimum performance as well as treating and preventing throwing arm injuries.
Three systems—muscles, nerves and mechanical laws—interact to allow you to throw a ball.
The human body contains 600 muscles, which supply power for movement.
Not all muscles work in the same way. For example, muscles controlling the eye must operate with precision and speed to focus on an object. In contrast, the biceps muscle is not required to perform such fine, exact movements.
The difference in the performance of the eye and biceps muscles is due mainly to their nerve supply. While one motor-nerve controls no more than three eye muscle cells, a single motor-nerve may transmit messages to hundreds of muscle fibers in the arm. This difference accounts for the arms less refined movement.
The nervous system “learns” a certain movement pattern through repetition. The more a skill, or series of movements, is practiced, the more recognizable the pattern becomes to the nervous system, thus decreasing the chance of inaccurate performance.
That’s why the more a ball player practices, the more skilled he or she becomes.
With all the sophistication of the human body, though, it still must adhere to the laws of mechanical science. You must understand the laws of mechanical science in order to maximize your performance as a softball player.
For example, the laws of acceleration and force control athletic performance because every movement must begin with force. As the muscles of the throwing arm contract, force from the contractions is transferred to the ball, moving it faster and faster as long as force is applied.
The length of time force is applied is a major factor in determining the speed at which you throw the ball.
This basic discussion of muscles, nerves and mechanical laws and their interrelationship is essential to understanding and benefiting from future columns. You will learn about the causes of arm injury, how to prevent such a injury and how to maximize your throwing potential with proper technique.