Podiatry Commons^™

The Influence Of Shoe And Cleat Type On Lower Extremity Muscle Activation In Youth Baseball Pitchers, Jacob R. Gdovin, Chip Wade, Lauren A. Luginsland, Charles C. Williams, Riley Galloway, John C. Garner

Human Movement Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Baseball pitching is a dynamic movement where the lower extremities generate and sequentially transfer energy to the upper extremities to maximize ball velocity. The need for lower body muscular strength to produce adequate push-off and landing forces has been documented; however, the influence footwear and surface inclination has on muscle activation remains unknown.

Objectives: Determine how pitching in molded cleats and turf shoes from a pitching mound and flat ground affects stride-leg muscle activation in youth baseball pitchers while determining percent activation during each pitching phase.

Methods: Cross – sectional study analyzing mean muscle activity and percent activation of …