Terrestrial or aerial : play ball your way
The organization of our biomechanics is optimized. What does this mean?
Simply that our movements are performed in a system that is economical, effective and efficient. This system is coded in our body and is governed by the notion of survival. A body will always move to optimize its chances of survival (without risk of injury)! It is the power of living beings to move and be able to find ways to adapt to their environment!
Based on this observation, several scientists have developed theories and tested them scientifically. This is how the notion of motor preferences emerged. One of the first to have been identified concerns a displacement profile in the sagittal plane (front-back): This is the terrestrial or aerial profile.
For more than 20 years, Volodalen: movement laboratory in Switzerland, has been developing an approach aimed at a better understanding of the runner's functioning in order to better adapt his training. Their studies and publications prove the existence of two types of walks that correspond to both profiles*.
Although the profiles are evenly distributed in the population (50% aerial and 50% terrestrial), it is important to understand that these two profiles cannot be considered as two distinct and easily identifiable groups. We are talking more about a cursor that will place the athlete's profile between two poles that are the most aerial and the most terrestrial.
So what do these two profiles consist of?
The aerial profile is based on a mass-spring system. The movement of walking (or running) is initiated by the upper body (scapular belt), the lower limbs simply follow the upper body to catch up with the balance. Athletes with this profile will generate a strong vertical oscillation when running (up to 20% more than a terrestrial) and will have a longer flying time. When running, they will land in heels below the center of gravity (6 to 12 degrees less than terrestrial). Their running preference (even in endurance) tends towards speed (higher cadence than an terrestrial). Athletes with an aerial profile activate their nervous system by placing their mass on the front and mobilize the posterior muscle chains (rebound, extension, abduction). Having its masses on the front, the aerial is not afraid to fall forwards and will find it easier to move backwards.
The terrestrial profile is based on a torque (pulley) system. The forward movement is initiated by the lower body (pelvis). The joints of the lower limbs pull and push, the upper body follows. Athletes with this profile will generate very little vertical oscillation during the race since they generate a horizontal push-pull force, with a more assertive pause in the heel in front of the center of gravity. They will have a preference for duration in the race, rather than speed. Athletes with a terrestrial profile activate their nervous system by putting their mass on the back and mobilize the anterior muscle chains (flexion, push, adduction). With the masses on the back, they are not afraid to fall backwards. A terrestrial athlete will therefore find it easier to move forward.
The applications in baseball are numerous. They range from physical preparation (plyometric or concentric work), injury prevention, mental preparation (dynamic or calm type of instructions) and adaptation of technical gestures. This adaptation of the technical gesture is crucial and must be done within the considerations imposed by the sport environment (the bat, the glove, the ball, the field, the rules) and with the objective of optimizing performance. Forcing a player to perform a technical gesture (outside of those related to the sport environment) should no longer be the norm given the high probability of causing failure, therefore frustration... and even worse: injuries.
Aerial profile pitcher: (credit Baseball Canada):
By taking into account that an aerial player needs an initial rebound to generate power during his swing or throw, that an aerial player uses more flexion, more anchoring to perform his movements, it is possible to find the right position for the player, the one that will make him comfortable and able to produce his gesture. This movement he will not need to think about because it will be natural and will correspond to his motor preferences. But in addition to the position, it is possible to orient the player towards a more or less rigid bat, more or less narrow and more or less rigid shoes?
Terrestrial pitcher (credit Baseball Canada):
The aerial or terrestrial profile is only the top of the iceberg! In Baseball, other motor preferences will come into play: the motor eye, the motor shoulder, the notion of unit or spiral, the axial or wide motor, the flexion and extension leg, the inspiration or expiration chain, etc.
Based on an evaluation made by a professional trained in motor preferences, the athlete and his staff will be able to build a complete program that will lead them to success.
David Genest.
*Resource: https://volodalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Gindre-IJSM-2016-Running-patterns-Biomechanics.pdf