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Int J Sports Med 2019; 40(07): 447-452
DOI: 10.1055/a-0881-2905
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Total and Regional Body Composition of NCAA Division I Collegiate Baseball Athletes

Madeline A. Czeck
1   School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
,
Christiana J. Raymond-Pope
1   School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
,
Tyler A. Bosch
2   Educational Technology Innovations, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
,
Christopher W. Bach
3   Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
,
Jonathan M. Oliver
4   Department of Kinesiology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, United States
,
Aaron Carbuhn
5   Kansas Athletics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, United States
,
Philip R. Stanforth
6   Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States
,
Donald R. Dengel
1   School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted 12 March 2019

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)

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Abstract

This study’s purpose was to evaluate total, regional, and throwing versus non-throwing arm body composition measurements between various positions of NCAA Division I male baseball players using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Two hundred and one collegiate baseball athletes were measured using DXA. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT), total and regional fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured. Athletes were separated into: pitchers (n=92), catchers (n=25), outfielders (n=43), and infielders (n=41). ANOVA and Tukey’s honest significant difference assessed total and regional differences between positions. Infielders had significantly (p<0.05) lower total LM than pitchers and outfielders. Additionally, outfielders had significantly lower total FM compared to pitchers and catchers. No significant differences between positions were observed for total BMD and VAT. Pitchers’ and infielders’ throwing arm demonstrated significantly greater total mass, FM, LM, and BMD compared to the non-throwing arm. Further, outfielders’ throwing arm total mass, LM, and BMD were significantly higher vs. the non-throwing arm. Significant differences were observed in total and regional body composition measurements across position, in addition to differences in throwing arm vs. non-throwing arm composition. These measurement values are important to coaches and trainers as normative positional DXA data for collegiate baseball players.

Key words

dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) - visceral adipose tissue - bone mineral density
 

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