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Preprint / Version 1

Validation of PITCHAI Markerless Motion Capture Using Gold Standard 3D Motion Capture

##article.authors##

  • Tyler Dobos Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
  • Ryan Bench Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
  • Mike Holmes Brock University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1918-1695
  • Colin McKinnon 3MotionAI, Oakville, ON, Canada
  • Anthony Brady Driveline Baseball LLC, Kent, WA, USA
  • Kyle Boddy Driveline Baseball LLC, Kent, WA, USA
  • Michael Sonne 3MotionAI, Oakville, ON, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51224/SRXIV.101

Keywords:

Kinematics, Baseball, Pitching, Motion Capture

Abstract

Most kinematic and kinetic assessments in baseball pitchers have been determined using marker-based motion capture systems. No current research exists on the feasibility of using single camera markerless motion capture technology for kinematic analysis of pitching. The purpose of this study was to compare and validate pitching kinematics (joint angles and summary metrics) from a markerless motion capture solution with a gold standard, 3D optical marker-based solution. 38 healthy pitchers of high school, college, or professional levels of experience threw 1-3 maximum effort pitches while concurrently using marker-based optical motion capture and pitchAI smartphone based (markerless) motion capture. Each pitch was time normalised from peak leg lift, to ball release. Time series pitchAI measures were compared to 3D motion capture using Pearson's R (R), R Squared (r2), and root mean square error (RMSE) for each joint angle. Discrete time points were evaluated for all joint kinematics at foot plant (FP), maximal shoulder external rotation (MER), and ball release (BR); as well as for descriptive metrics (stride length, arm speed, ball visibility, and ball path). For full time-series joint angles the pelvis and trunk had the best overall fit with an average r2 of 0.98, and 3.1 ± 1.1° of RMSE. The knee angles had an average r2 of 0.97 ± 0.02, and an average RMSE of 4.1 ± 2.0°. The throwing arm had an average r2 of 0.97 ± 0.02, with an average RMSE of 6.0 ± 2.2° across all measures.  The glove arm performed the worst, with an average r2 of 0.95, and 7.3° of RMSE. Across all discrete time points, the most accurate measures were the knees, followed by the trunk and pelvis, throwing arm, and finally glove arm. Stride length had an average RMSE of 3.90 ± 4.77%, and an r2 of 0.31. Arm speed had an average RMSE of 2.6 ± 3.4 m/s, and an r2 of 0.25. Ball visibility had an RMSE of 20.7 ± 24.1 ms, and an r2 of 0.10.  Ball path had an RMSE of 19.79 ± 23.9%, and an r2 of 0.45. When considering the technical ease of video-based solutions and an ability to measure in field, most metrics were within an acceptable range to the gold standard. pitchAI can be recommended as a markerless alternative to classic marker-based motion capture for baseball pitch kinematic analysis.

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2022-01-12

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