Brachial arterial adaptations in college baseball players: Differences between pitchers and fielders

Abstract

Objectives

Although exercise-induced vascular adaptations have been extensively reported in racket sports athletes, the applicability of these findings to athletes in other overhead sports is unclear. This study aimed to investigate exercise-induced vascular adaptations in college male baseball players. Furthermore, since the training frequency of the upper arm may differ by baseball playing position, this study also focused on playing position-specific differences in brachial arterial adaptations.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

Seventy-five baseball players and 23 sedentary young men aged 18–23 years participated in this study. The participants' brachial artery diameter, blood flow velocity, and blood flow volume were measured using an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system. Brachial hemodynamic measurements of both hands were obtained randomly in a seated resting position.

Results

Baseball players demonstrated significantly greater brachial lean mass, circumference, arterial diameter, and blood flow volume than sedentary control participants. Statistically significant differences in brachial artery diameters between the non-dominant and dominant arms were observed only in the baseball pitcher group. Furthermore, body surface area- and brachial lean mass-corrected artery diameters in the dominant arm were also significantly larger than those in the non-dominant arm in the baseball pitcher group. A simple correlation analysis revealed a positive association between brachial lean mass/circumference and arterial diameter in all participants.

Conclusions

These findings suggest asymmetrical exercise-induced vascular adaptations in the brachial artery of baseball players, particularly pitchers, indicating the potential role of playing position-specific demands in vascular remodeling. Understanding these adaptations may inform training strategies and help prevent injuries in baseball players.