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Eccentric Motorised Cycling as a Re-Warm-Up Strategy for Trained Male Baseball Pitchers

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Thesis(5.44 MB)

Date

2026

Authors

Takahashi, Yuuki

Supervisor

Brughelli, Matt
Uthoff, Aaron

Item type

Thesis

Degree name

Master of Sport, Exercise and Health

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Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

In most sports, intermissions during the games are common. These breaks in the game can reduce muscle temperature and neuromuscular readiness, subsequently affecting performance. Re-warm-up (RWU) strategies are important to mitigate these declines for a variety of sports. Although the physiological aspects of RWU have been investigated in the literature, the connection between perceived readiness and physiological readiness remains unexplored. While traditional RWU methods have shown benefits for performance, there is a distinct gap in the literature for the application of eccentric motorised cycling (EMC) as a RWU modality in overhead throwing athletes. This thesis aimed to (1) review the literature on RWU strategies and eccentric exercise in relation to ballistic performance, and (2) investigate the effects of EMC as an RWU intervention on throwing velocity, shoulder range of motion (ROM), and perceived readiness in baseball pitchers following a simulated intermission. Based on the gap identified in the literature review, a randomised repeated-measures design was employed, with 13 club-level male baseball players performing a throwing test, a shoulder ROM test before and after completing three RWU protocols: passive, plyoball, and EMC. A Likert scale for perceived readiness (Perceived Readiness Scale (PRS)) was also included to understand the participants’ subjective readiness prior to the second bout of throwing. The results showed no significant main effect for condition on throwing velocity (p = .150, ηp² = .158); however, EMC demonstrated the smallest decline in throwing velocity (−1.20%; mean change: −2.98 ± 3.61 km/h) and was significantly greater than the plyoball condition by 1.83 km/h (p = .045, d = 0.54). The lack of significance between EMC and control may be explained by the lack of sample size or wider variation from pre-post intervention in the control group. No significant differences were observed in shoulder ROM across conditions. A moderate negative correlation between external rotation (ER) change and throwing velocity was identified in the control condition (r = −.525). Additionally, PRS differed significantly between conditions (p = .023), with EMC producing the highest median scores (Mdn = 4.0) compared to control (Mdn = 3.0) and plyoball (Mdn = 3.0). A moderate positive trend between perceived readiness and velocity change was observed in the plyoball condition (ρ = .482). EMC shows potential as an effective RWU strategy to attenuate declines in throwing velocity and enhance perceived readiness following short intermissions. Although findings were limited by a small sample size and environmental variability, results provide some support for incorporating EMC into RWU protocols for overhead athletes. Further research with larger samples and controlled conditions is required to confirm these findings and explore mechanisms further.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10292/21422

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Masters Theses