This study examined the relationship between measures of heart rate variability (HRV) and pitching performance in 10 professional baseball pitchers. Resting HRV measurements of low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) were collected and compared to metrics of batters faced (BF) and batters faced plus pitches per inning pitched (BFPIP). Moderate indirect relationships were found between HF and BF/BFPIP, while moderate direct relationships were seen between LF and BF/BFPIP. Pitchers with higher sympathetic control (lower HF, higher LF) at rest tended to face more batters during that day's game.
A Correlative Study of Cardiovascular Response to Sustained Hand Grip in Heal...
CHS SYM Poster
1. Relationships Between Resting Heart Rate Variability and Performance Measures Among Professional Baseball Pitchers
Logan Thorp1 (Student), Kyle T. Ebersole1 (Faculty Sponsor), David J. Cornell1,
Christian Polega2, Josh Seligman2, Roger A. Caplinger2
1Human Performance & Sport Physiology Laboratory, Integrative Health Care & Performance - Department of Kinesiology, College of Health
Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,
2Milwaukee Brewers Baseball club
Subjects
Ten professional baseball pitchers from a Class A team (age=23.6±1.3 yrs,
height=188.60±3.89 cm, body weight=96.0±7.68 kg) volunteered to
participate in the current research study.
Procedures
The procedures that were used in gathering our data included: measuring
resting measures of HRV and inputting data recorded from pitch logs. Resting
measures of HRV were collected via Zephyr Bioharness 3 monitors
(Annapolis, MD) on pitch days throughout the season and reflect a total of
150 days among all participants. 10-minute HRV samples were collected
from each player in a supine position upon arrival to the clubhouse and before
any physical training. HF and LF were analyzed during the middle five
minutes of the R-R series data using Kubios HRV 2.1 software (Kuopio,
Finland) and are reported as normalized units (nu). The pitching metrics of
BF and BFPIP were calculated via team pitching logs that were supplied by
the team.
Statistical Analyses
Bivariate Pearson correlations were used to examine the relationships between
HRV measures (HF & LF) and pitching metrics (BF & BFPIP). Bivariate
Pearson correlations were used to examines the relationships between the
Heart Rate Variability time-domain method of RMSSD and in-game HR, BF,
and BFPIP. All statistical analyses were conducting using IBM SPSS
statistical software and an alpha of p<.05 determined statistical significance.
According to the results of this study, the correlations between HF
measurements and BF, and BFPIP, revealed indirect relationships. The
correlations between LF and BF, and BFPIP, showed moderate direct
relationships. Pitchers who were under a greater parasympathetic control (i.e.
higher HF, lower LF) at rest faced a lower number of batters during the game
that day. These results suggest resting HRV measures may provide unique
insight into efficiency of pitch performance. Future investigation should
examine the relative contribution of preparation for pitching and/or
psychophysiological measures of performance to better understand this potential
performance relationship.
METHODS
RESULTS
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
Mean ± standard deviation results were 33.44±5.75 nu and 66.4±5.74 nu
(HF & LF, respectively), 18.4±3.39 BF/game, and 22.3±1.82 BFPIP.
Although statistically insignificant, Pearson correlations revealed moderate
indirect relationships between HF measurements and BF (r=-0.566, p=0.088),
and BFPIP (r=-0.441, p=0.202), as well as moderate direct relationships
between LF measurements and BF (r=0.566, p=0.088), and BFPIP (r=0.434,
p=0.210).
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Heart rate variability (HRV) has been
suggested to provide insight into the relative contributions of
the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system through
measures of low-frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF). No
prior study has examined the relationship between HF and LF
measures of HRV and measures of pitching performance, such
as batters faced (BF) and pitches, in professional baseball
pitchers. PURPOSE: As such, the purpose of this research
project was to examine the relationship between the HRV
measures of HF and LF and the pitching performance metrics
of total BF and the new metric BFPIP [(batters faced + total
pitches)/ innings pitched]. METHODS: Ten professional
baseball pitchers from a Class A team (age=23.6±1.3 yrs,
height=188.60±3.89 cm, body weight=96.0±7.68 kg)
volunteered to participate in the current research study.
Resting measures of HRV were collected via Zephyr
Bioharness 3 monitors (Annapolis, MD) on pitch days
throughout the season and reflect a total of 150 days among all
participants. 10-minute HRV samples were collected from each
player in a supine position upon arrival to the clubhouse and
before any physical training. HF and LF were analyzed during
the middle five minutes of the R-R series data using Kubios
HRV 2.1 software (Kuopio, Finland) and are reported as
normalized units (nu). The pitching metrics of BF and BFPIP
were calculated via team pitching logs. Bivariate Pearson
correlations were used to examine the relationships between
HRV measures (HF & LF) and pitching metrics (BF & BFPIP).
All statistical analyses were conducting using IBM SPSS
statistical software and an alpha of p<.05 determined statistical
significance. RESULTS: Mean ± standard deviation results
were 33.44±5.75 nu and 66.4±5.74 nu (HF & LF,
respectively), 18.4±3.39 BF/game, and 22.3±1.82 BFPIP.
Although statistically insignificant, Pearson correlations
revealed moderate indirect relationships between HF
measurements and BF (r=-0.566, p=0.088), and BFPIP (r=-
0.441, p=0.202), as well as moderate direct relationships
between LF measurements and BF (r=0.566, p=0.088), and
BFPIP (r=0.434, p=0.210) CONCLUSION: Pitchers who were
under greater sympathetic control at rest (i.e. lower HF, higher
LF) seemed to face a greater number of batters during the game
later that day. These results suggest resting HRV measures may
provide unique insight into efficiency of pitch performance.
Future investigation should examine the relative contribution of
preparation for pitching and/or psychophysiological measures
of performance to better understand this potential performance
relationship.
Heart rate variability (HRV) has been suggested to provide insight into the
relative contributions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous
systems on heart rate control. This research examined specific measurements
of HRV through measures of LF and HF and how they compare to pitch
performance in professional baseball pitchers. . The purpose of this research
project was to examine the relationship between the HRV measurements of
HF and LF and pitch performance measurements of total BF and BFPIP
[(batters faced + total pitches)/ innings pitched]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We thank the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball club for funding this project and
the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for supporting the data collection.
Graph 1 and 2. Descriptive Analysis
21.1 21.5 21
18.3
17.1
21.7
17.9
19.9
12.7 12.7
0
5
10
15
20
25
1 3 5 6 10 13 14 15 16 17
BattersFaced
Pitcher IDs
Average BF per Pitcher on Game Day
21.4
26.3
21.2
23.1 23.2
21.5 22.3 23.3
20.2 20.2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1 3 5 6 10 13 14 15 16 17
BattersFacedPerInningPitched
Pitcher IDs
Average BFPIP per Pitcher on Game Day
![Relationships Between Resting Heart Rate Variability and Performance Measures Among Professional Baseball Pitchers
Logan Thorp1 (Student), Kyle T. Ebersole1 (Faculty Sponsor), David J. Cornell1,
Christian Polega2, Josh Seligman2, Roger A. Caplinger2
1Human Performance & Sport Physiology Laboratory, Integrative Health Care & Performance - Department of Kinesiology, College of Health
Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,
2Milwaukee Brewers Baseball club
Subjects
Ten professional baseball pitchers from a Class A team (age=23.6±1.3 yrs,
height=188.60±3.89 cm, body weight=96.0±7.68 kg) volunteered to
participate in the current research study.
Procedures
The procedures that were used in gathering our data included: measuring
resting measures of HRV and inputting data recorded from pitch logs. Resting
measures of HRV were collected via Zephyr Bioharness 3 monitors
(Annapolis, MD) on pitch days throughout the season and reflect a total of
150 days among all participants. 10-minute HRV samples were collected
from each player in a supine position upon arrival to the clubhouse and before
any physical training. HF and LF were analyzed during the middle five
minutes of the R-R series data using Kubios HRV 2.1 software (Kuopio,
Finland) and are reported as normalized units (nu). The pitching metrics of
BF and BFPIP were calculated via team pitching logs that were supplied by
the team.
Statistical Analyses
Bivariate Pearson correlations were used to examine the relationships between
HRV measures (HF & LF) and pitching metrics (BF & BFPIP). Bivariate
Pearson correlations were used to examines the relationships between the
Heart Rate Variability time-domain method of RMSSD and in-game HR, BF,
and BFPIP. All statistical analyses were conducting using IBM SPSS
statistical software and an alpha of p<.05 determined statistical significance.
According to the results of this study, the correlations between HF
measurements and BF, and BFPIP, revealed indirect relationships. The
correlations between LF and BF, and BFPIP, showed moderate direct
relationships. Pitchers who were under a greater parasympathetic control (i.e.
higher HF, lower LF) at rest faced a lower number of batters during the game
that day. These results suggest resting HRV measures may provide unique
insight into efficiency of pitch performance. Future investigation should
examine the relative contribution of preparation for pitching and/or
psychophysiological measures of performance to better understand this potential
performance relationship.
METHODS
RESULTS
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
Mean ± standard deviation results were 33.44±5.75 nu and 66.4±5.74 nu
(HF & LF, respectively), 18.4±3.39 BF/game, and 22.3±1.82 BFPIP.
Although statistically insignificant, Pearson correlations revealed moderate
indirect relationships between HF measurements and BF (r=-0.566, p=0.088),
and BFPIP (r=-0.441, p=0.202), as well as moderate direct relationships
between LF measurements and BF (r=0.566, p=0.088), and BFPIP (r=0.434,
p=0.210).
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Heart rate variability (HRV) has been
suggested to provide insight into the relative contributions of
the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system through
measures of low-frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF). No
prior study has examined the relationship between HF and LF
measures of HRV and measures of pitching performance, such
as batters faced (BF) and pitches, in professional baseball
pitchers. PURPOSE: As such, the purpose of this research
project was to examine the relationship between the HRV
measures of HF and LF and the pitching performance metrics
of total BF and the new metric BFPIP [(batters faced + total
pitches)/ innings pitched]. METHODS: Ten professional
baseball pitchers from a Class A team (age=23.6±1.3 yrs,
height=188.60±3.89 cm, body weight=96.0±7.68 kg)
volunteered to participate in the current research study.
Resting measures of HRV were collected via Zephyr
Bioharness 3 monitors (Annapolis, MD) on pitch days
throughout the season and reflect a total of 150 days among all
participants. 10-minute HRV samples were collected from each
player in a supine position upon arrival to the clubhouse and
before any physical training. HF and LF were analyzed during
the middle five minutes of the R-R series data using Kubios
HRV 2.1 software (Kuopio, Finland) and are reported as
normalized units (nu). The pitching metrics of BF and BFPIP
were calculated via team pitching logs. Bivariate Pearson
correlations were used to examine the relationships between
HRV measures (HF & LF) and pitching metrics (BF & BFPIP).
All statistical analyses were conducting using IBM SPSS
statistical software and an alpha of p<.05 determined statistical
significance. RESULTS: Mean ± standard deviation results
were 33.44±5.75 nu and 66.4±5.74 nu (HF & LF,
respectively), 18.4±3.39 BF/game, and 22.3±1.82 BFPIP.
Although statistically insignificant, Pearson correlations
revealed moderate indirect relationships between HF
measurements and BF (r=-0.566, p=0.088), and BFPIP (r=-
0.441, p=0.202), as well as moderate direct relationships
between LF measurements and BF (r=0.566, p=0.088), and
BFPIP (r=0.434, p=0.210) CONCLUSION: Pitchers who were
under greater sympathetic control at rest (i.e. lower HF, higher
LF) seemed to face a greater number of batters during the game
later that day. These results suggest resting HRV measures may
provide unique insight into efficiency of pitch performance.
Future investigation should examine the relative contribution of
preparation for pitching and/or psychophysiological measures
of performance to better understand this potential performance
relationship.
Heart rate variability (HRV) has been suggested to provide insight into the
relative contributions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous
systems on heart rate control. This research examined specific measurements
of HRV through measures of LF and HF and how they compare to pitch
performance in professional baseball pitchers. . The purpose of this research
project was to examine the relationship between the HRV measurements of
HF and LF and pitch performance measurements of total BF and BFPIP
[(batters faced + total pitches)/ innings pitched]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We thank the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball club for funding this project and
the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for supporting the data collection.
Graph 1 and 2. Descriptive Analysis
21.1 21.5 21
18.3
17.1
21.7
17.9
19.9
12.7 12.7
0
5
10
15
20
25
1 3 5 6 10 13 14 15 16 17
BattersFaced
Pitcher IDs
Average BF per Pitcher on Game Day
21.4
26.3
21.2
23.1 23.2
21.5 22.3 23.3
20.2 20.2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1 3 5 6 10 13 14 15 16 17
BattersFacedPerInningPitched
Pitcher IDs
Average BFPIP per Pitcher on Game Day](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/29beb3f2-0103-4cd5-80ba-ea810a88964e-170111164830/85/CHS-SYM-Poster-1-320.jpg)
