A medical study, funded by Major League Baseball, has found that pitching off a standard 10-inch mound causes increased shoulder stress compared to throwing on flat ground.

Twenty pitchers from MLB and NCAA organizations participated during spring training last year.   Digital video cameras were used to record throwing motion for analysis.  In addition to throwing on flat ground, the pitchers threw from 10-inch, eight-inch, and six-inch mounds.

Although higher shoulder torque levels were observed when pitching from a 10-inch mound, the data was not conclusive enough to suggest a lowering of the standard mound height.

William Raasch, M. D., associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, headed up the research team. 

MLB commissioned the work in order to determine possible sources of player injuries.

Original press release available at EurekAlert!