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Effect of Three Different Between-Inning Recovery Methods on Pitching Performance

GC Giovanni CirianiMember
Has anybody read this article*, and what's your reaction?

Note*:
Warren CD, Brown LE, Landers MR, Stahura KA. Effect of three different between-inning recovery methods on baseball pitching performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2011;25(3):683-688.

Abstract: A decrease in blood hydrogen ions (H) may allow for the recovery of a muscle, which should allow for greater performance in subsequent activity. The purpose of this study was to determine which of 3 forms of recovery were the most effective after an inning of pitching in baseball. Three different measurements were used to determine which recovery method was most effective; the difference in blood lactate (BLa) levels was used as a biological measurement, average pitching speed was the physiological measurement, and the psychological measurement was done on how the pitchers perceived their pitching and recovery. The recovery methods that were used were passive recovery (PR), active recovery (AR), and electromuscular stimulation (EMS). Seven college men aged 21 (±2 years) who were National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II college baseball pitchers were assessed during game play simulations. Blood lactate levels decreased significantly from the premeasurement to the postmeasurement with the EMS recovery method (p < 0.0005); however, BLa did not change for PR (p = 0.017) or AR (p = 0.134). Perceived recovery was also found to be best in the EMS and PR conditions. These findings suggest that EMS is an effective recovery method between innings of pitching.
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GC Giovanni CirianiMember
quote:
Originally posted by SultanofSwat:
TR, I just realized this is about performance "during the game" between innings, not injury prevention between games. I was confused.

You are right the research is about increasing performance with the appropriate recovery method between innings, as the title of the study implies. However, since you bring it up, the study (not the abstract) mentions that "As a pitcher becomes fatigued, there is an increased likelihood of injury; therefore, recovery is of utmost importance". This last finding is apparently supported by another study**.

Note**:
Hackney RG. Advances in the understanding of throwing injuries of the shoulder. Br J Sports Med. 1996;30(4):282-288.
BOFBOF10,000+ posts
It looks interesting. EMS is Electronic Muscle Stimulation. UCLA baseball is now using it in conjunction with the medical school. I got a picture from the UCLA dugout last season with them working on Trevor Bauer between innings. I guess the secret to his success is now out
Last edited by BOF
BOFBOF10,000+ posts
OMG Giovanni....Look at the picture! IT IS A JOKE!

Seriously I am interested in this, since it peels back the onion a bit on the whole concept of muscle fatigue and recovery for pitchers. I really know very little about this other than the silly late night ads for some ab machine. The practicality of wiring up a pitcher between interesting. (hence the picture)
GC Giovanni CirianiMember
quote:
Originally posted by BOF:
Look at the picture! IT IS A JOKE!
Seriously I am interested in this.

You got me I knew the Frankenstein picture was a joke, but I thought the reference to UCLA medical school was real. There is a ton of research for sport applications. You can peruse my bibliography and collection of abstracts on the subject. If you are interested in a particular article, I may have it to share. Let me know.
Last edited by Giovanni Ciriani
CoachDanCoachDan10+ posts
I just grabbed my Journal of Strength & Conditioning research to check out the article and I'm reminded of one thing... these journal articles are about as much fun as a root canal!

Anyway, I've always believed in "stim" for recovery of muscles and I know a handful of college guys that swear by their little portable stim units (like the one that Giovanni sells ;-) in the dugout...

BUT...

If this was such a tremendous in-game recovery method why don't we see the guys in the MLB running off the field and slapping the little white pads on?

I *think* that the research shows a greater recovery using ems between starts as opposed to between innings. I just don't see a quick 3-5 minute stim session being enough to get an extra 30-50 pitches out of an arm. Again, this is my *thinking* i.e. opinion and I've been wrong on a few occasions before and this my be one of them...

Huff
Last edited by CoachDan
GC Giovanni CirianiMember
Dan,
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. Electrical stimulation is more popular in Europe, where more coaches are familiar with it, than in the USA. I'm the first to say that it's not a panacea, but for some coaches it produces results, while others prefer to complement traditional training with other methods. My US customers have been typically from endurance sports (triathlon, cycling), but recently I had a couple of purchases from people involved with baseball. They said the purchase was recommended by Ron Wolforth. So I thought this was coincidental with the research article, and that's the reason why I asked for feedback in this forum.

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