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Anatomy Intro
Overview of anatomy, the anatomical position, and how it all applies to baseball pitching and throwing. As your understanding of shoulder and elbow anatomy increases you'll see why current throwing techniques are anatomically flawed.
RPM™ pitching and throwing injury prevention strategies focus on understanding and improving elbow and shoulder stability and on changing how baseball players apply force to these joints.
(Click here to return to Injuries and Anatomy Topic Index)
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Anatomy Basics & Glossary
In order to communicate easily and efficiently about complex anatomy concepts we can use the language of anatomy. Below are a few basic definitions and accompanying illustrations to give us common ground for discussing anatomy as it relates to baseball pitching and throwing. Taking a little time to understand these concepts will be very helpful to you. (It's also helpful to note that many of these terms work in pairs!) Soon we will be posting a short video that will help you visualize the anatomy terms listed below.
(Note: Dr. Dale Layman's book, Anatomy Demystified, is an outstanding, fun self-teaching guide that can help you get started. Highly recommended reading as an introduction to anatomy. Also recommended is Webster's Online Medical Dictionary: http://www.merriam-webster.com/ )
Anatomical Position (Webster's Medical Dictionary)
The position with the body erect with the arms at the sides and the palms forward. The anatomical position is important because it provides a visual frame of reference for anatomical terms: anterior and posterior, medial and lateral, abduction and adduction, and so on, apply to the body when it is in the anatomical position.
Anterior & Posterior
Anterior: situated toward or facing the front of the body (also synonymous with Ventral in human anatomy because of the upright posture of humans)
Posterior: situated at or facing toward the back of the body (also synonymous with Caudal or Dorsal in human anatomy where upright posture makes dorsal and caudal identical)
Medial & Lateral
Medial: lying or extending in the middle (especially of a body part: lying or extending toward the median axis of the body, as in "the medial surface of the humerus")
Lateral: lying at or extending toward the right or left side; of or relating to the side (especially of a body part: lying away from the median axis of the body as in "the arms are lateral to the torso")
Abduction & Adduction
Abduction: to draw away (as a limb) from a position near or parallel to the median axis of the body; also, to move (similar parts) apart as in "abduct adjoining fingers"
Adduction: to draw (as a limb) toward or past the median axis of the body; also, to bring together (similar parts) as in "adduct the fingers"
Flexion & Extension
Flexion occurs when the angle of a joint narrows (as in "flex your elbow joint"); extension occurs when the joint angle widens (the joint extends) (click to see illustration)
Internal Rotation & External Rotation
