Sports Medicine
Pitchers’ blood flow decreased in provocative shoulder position
By Casey Tingle
After one competitive baseball season, the blood flow of pitchers significantly decreased when in a provocative shoulder position, according to researchers’ findings.
The researchers collected measurements of 20 professional baseball pitchers and 16 position players on day 1 of two consecutive spring training seasons. The researchers also used diagnostic ultrasound to measure blood flow of the throwing arm brachial artery while participants were in a standing position with the test arm resting at the participant’s side and again with the test arm in a provocative shoulder position.