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Upper extremity blood flow changes in professional baseball pitchers between two consecutive seasons
Kevin Laudner1, Noelle Selkow2, Nick Burke2
1School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA; Texas Metroplex Institute for Sports Medicine and Orthopedics, Arlington, TX, USA.
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
|April 6, 2015
Summary
Blood flow in the throwing arm of professional baseball pitchers significantly decreased in a provocative shoulder position after one competitive season. This suggests potential compromise to upper extremity blood flow in pitchers post-season.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Baseball pitchers experience high forces and repetitive motions, leading to shoulder adaptations.
- Previous research focused on strength and range of motion, not arm blood flow.
- No studies have investigated changes in dominant arm blood flow in baseball players.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alterations in brachial artery blood flow in the dominant arm of professional baseball players.
- To compare blood flow measurements between two consecutive spring training seasons.
- To determine if blood flow changes differ between pitchers and position players.
Main Methods:
- Utilized diagnostic ultrasound to measure brachial artery blood flow.
- Measurements were taken in resting and provocative shoulder positions.
- Analyzed data from 20 pitchers and 16 position players over two seasons.
Main Results:
- Pitchers showed no significant change in resting arm blood flow between seasons.
- Pitchers experienced a significant decrease in blood flow in the provocative position after one season.
- Position players exhibited no significant changes in blood flow in either arm position.
Conclusions:
- Competitive baseball pitching may compromise blood flow to the throwing arm's upper extremity.
- A significant reduction in blood flow was observed in pitchers in a provocative shoulder position.
- These findings highlight a potential vascular adaptation in elite baseball pitchers.
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