Evaluating Active, Passive, and Electromuscular Recovery Methods on Pitching Performance and Fatigue in High School Athletes

The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of three between-inning recovery methods [Active recovery (AR), passive recovery (PR), and electromuscular stimulation (EMS)] among high school pitchers. Four indicators were used to evaluate effectiveness: blood lactate (BLa) clearance, average pitcher velocity, perceived pitch intensity, and a subjective recovery rating. The study hypothesized that as pitchers progress through three innings of play, EMS is the most effective method for betweeninning recovery. Four high school pitchers, aged 16, underwent three testing days, each separated by four days of rest. Testing days consisted of warm-ups, bullpen sessions, three innings pitched (15 per inning), and a post-inning protocol that included 6 minutes of recovery, measurements of blood lactate, and subjective effort ratings. Statistical analyses identified a significant main effect of recovery method on BLa clearance (p