Akshay Lath
Class of 2026Pittsburgh, PA
About
Project Portfolio
What impact do different pitch types have on the UCL and shoulder ligaments? How does warming up the arm decrease injury risk
Started June 24, 2024
Abstract or project description
Baseball, a sport deeply rooted in American culture, requires athletes to perform repetitive, high-stress motions, particularly when pitching. The different types of pitches—fastballs, sliders, curveballs, and changeups—each impose unique biomechanical demands on a pitcher's arm. These demands have significant implications for both performance and injury risk. Understanding the biomechanical differences among pitch types and their impact on the shoulder and elbow is essential for developing effective training, prevention, and rehabilitation strategies. Biomechanics of Different Pitch Types A study aimed at comparing the biomechanics of different pitch types in professional baseball pitchers found distinct differences in the forces and torques exerted on the shoulder and elbow. Fastballs, sliders, and curveballs generated greater forces and torques compared to changeups. Specifically, shoulder and elbow forces were significantly higher for the fastball, slider, and curveball, while the changeup resulted in lower kinetic loads (Escamilla et al., 2018). This suggests that pitchers may be at a higher risk of injury when frequently throwing pitches that require higher kinetic output.
Project Portfolio
Neuroscience and sound: delve into the neuroscience behind how your brain interprets sound
Started Feb. 12, 2024
Abstract or project description
The brain is incredible and complex and the source of much scientific research around the world. In this pod, you’ll focus on how our brains allow us to take unassuming sound waves and enable us to enjoy music, learn a new language, or recognize danger. Through this fascinating process, students will learn about the research process, the brain regions, how the brain regions cooperate to interpret sensory information, and how those individual actions culminate into the actions we take every day but may take for granted.