Comparison of Selected Blood Hemodynamic Variables and Carotid Artery Structure of Non-Athletic Young Men with Basketball Elite Players by Ultrasound Imaging Method

Compliance and Carotid artery intima-media thickness are both important determinants of cardiovascular problems that are influenced by factors such as age, physical activity, etc. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare blood mechanical properties and the carotid artery of professional basketball players and inactive people. For this purpose 10 young basketball men were compared with 10 young non-athlete men. Using the Doppler ultrasound apparatus, the film and image of the right carotid artery was taken from the subjects. Results showed that basketball players had lower heart rate (↓15.8%) and higher intima-media thickness in diastolic phase (↑17.8%) than non-athlete group, but systolic blood velocity (↑18.6%) and diastolic blood velocity (↑26.7%) and compliance (↑32%) were higher in the non-athlete group. Increased arterial stiffness in basketball seems to be a physiological adaptation to hypertension during training and competitions.