Field Based Evaluation of the Kinetic Contributions to Shoulder Health and their Relationship to Throwing Performance

Ashworth, Ben (2026) Field Based Evaluation of the Kinetic Contributions to Shoulder Health and their Relationship to Throwing Performance. Doctoral thesis, Liverpool Hope University.

Text Final submission BA Thesis.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 1 June 2029. Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (9MB)

Abstract

This thesis is structured into three core investigations to ensure a progressive evaluation of the Athletic Shoulder test in baseball, from its internal mechanics to its
external application and long-term monitoring potential:
Study 1: Foundational understanding of the Athletic Shoulder test
Study 1 provides foundational understanding of the Athletic Shoulder test by investigating muscle activity patterns and kinetics, including peak force and rate of
force development, within the ASH test and in relation to other relevant tests that influence the shoulder. These include tests of trunk rotation strength and measures of
isolated shoulder internal and external rotation using isometric dynamometry, which together contribute to understanding the integrated kinetic chain demands of overhead throwing. The aim is to establish normative data and develop a greater understanding
of the functional anatomy and contributions to specific shoulder tests.
Study 2: Relationship between ASH-Test measures and baseball pitching technical / kinematic characteristics
Study 2 explores the relationship between ASH test measurements and baseball pitching demands to establish its utility and relevance as a performance assessment tool in this population.
Study 3: ASH Test as a monitoring tool for throwing performance and recovery
Study 3 assesses the ASH test as a monitoring tool for neuromuscular performance following throwing exposure (sensitivity), evaluating its utility for tracking recovery kinetics and informing training adaptation, in addition to the potential for profiling 23 baseball pitchers to optimise long-term training adaptation and distinguish between individual athlete needs.
A broad overview of the context of high shoulder and upper body performance demands and increasing injury risk in baseball is introduced, with a view to rethinking
preventative strategies. This literature review section addresses the knowledge gap and presents the rationale for the three studies.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Additional Information and Comments:	Copyright © The Author 2026. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request.
Faculty / Department:	Faculty of Human and Digital Sciences > School of Health and Sport Sciences
SWORD Depositor:	RISE Symplectic
Depositing User:	RISE Symplectic
Date Deposited:	19 Jun 2026 11:28
Last Modified:	19 Jun 2026 11:28
URI:	https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/4944

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