Importance of Radar Gun Inclusion During Return-to-Throwing Rehabilitation Following Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Baseball Pitchers: A Simulation Study

Background: Rehabilitation following elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) in baseball pitchers relies on a progression of pitching activities to ensure protection and gradual strengthening of the reconstructed ligament. Typically, players rely on subjective, perceived effort during pitches instead of an objective assessment to guide pitch velocity progression. This reliance on subjective effort levels leaves the elbow vulnerable to early over-load.
Purpose: To determine the correlation between pitch velocity and elbow torque at successive subjective and objective partial effort throws.
Methods: High school and collegiate baseball pitchers were included in this study. Pitch parameters were collected using a wearable sensor. Participants threw five pitches at 50%, 75% and 100% subjective partial effort. Maximum pitch velocity was calculated according to the 100% effort throws. Pitchers then threw five pitches at 50% maximum velocity and 75% maximum velocity, as measured by radar gun. General linear models with post-hoc Tukey tests were performed to determine the effects of pitch type on pitch parameters.
Results: 37 pitchers completed this study. Pitches at 100% effort generated significantly more elbow torque when compared to pitches at 50% effort (48.9 Nm vs. 37.1 Nm, p