PURPOSE: Undergraduate exercise science students can benefit from curriculum which includes authentic, hands-on opportunities for learning. A 12-lead electrocardiograph (ECG) can serve as both as a teaching and screening tool to assess cardiac abnormalities in seniors (over age 65) prior to beginning an exercise program. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the ECG characteristics of older adults prior to participation in a twice-weekly supervised strength training program. METHODS: Thirty seniors (Males = 10; Females = 20; Age =72 ± 7.6yrs) completed cardiovascular screening with resting 12-lead ECG analysis prior to program participation. An exercise physiologist reviewed all ECG results and any identified abnormalities were referred to a cardiologist. Gender, ECG abnormalities, and anthropometrics were compared using a mixed model ANOVA. Chi-square analysis was used to test for differences in the frequency of ECG findings across gender. RESULTS: Thirty seniors (Males = 10; Females = 20; Age =72 ± 7.6yrs) completed cardiovascular screening with resting 12-lead ECG analysis prior to program participation. An exercise physiologist reviewed all ECG results and any identified abnormalities were referred to a cardiologist. Gender, ECG abnormalities, and anthropometrics were compared using a mixed model ANOVA. Chi-square analysis was used to test for differences in the frequency of ECG findings across gender CONCLUSIONS: A pre-exercise ECG can be a useful teaching and screening tool for students who are preparing to supervise older adults in a structured strength training program. ECG results can be used to adjust training variables (type, duration, and intensity) accordingly for each individual senior participant.
Background: Functional movement screening (FMS) and Y-balance test (YBT) are assessment procedures used to examine the ‘quality’ of movement patterns and identify individuals that might have specific limitations or asymmetries. Low FMS and YBT scores have been linked with a higher risk of injury among athletic populations. Since FMS and YBT are becoming more widely used screening tools, it is important to examine the various training programs that could improve FMS and YBT scores. Purpose: This pilot study examined the effects of a 10-week periodized and traditional military training program on FMS, and upper and lower quadrant YBT scores of Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Cadets. Methods: Subjects consisted of 36 Army and Air Force ROTC cadets (male=24, female=12), Age 19.7(yrs)±5.96, Height (cm)=175.7±9.28, Weight(kg)=75.70±13.41. The periodized, intervention group (IG n=24) trained for 1 hour/day, 4 days/week and the control group (CG n=12) participated in traditional ROTC training protocol for 1 hour/day, 3 days/week. A 2×2 mixed factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare mean change values of the FMS, upper, and lower quadrant YBT scores for intervention and control groups. Results: A significant interaction (p≤0.05) was observed for FMS scores. The control group had a much lower initial FMS score and demonstrated more improvement than the intervention group. Both groups demonstrated a significant increase in left side YBT upper (p=0.03) and lower (p=0.02) quadrant scores after 10-weeks of training. Conclusions: Since FMS and YBT scores are being used more frequently as screening tools for risk of injury, it is important to study methods that will improve FMS and YBT scores in diverse athletic populations. This study found larger improvements in FMS scores in ROTC cadets participating in a traditional military training program compared to cadets participating in a periodized strength training program. Scores in the left side of the YBT upper and lower quadrants were improved in both groups suggesting multiple training programs can improve function in non-dominant sides or asymmetries. Future studies are warranted and should address certain limitations that this study encountered (sample size and length of training period). Further exploration of FMS and YBT scores and mechanisms of improvement in tactical athletic populations would be beneficial.
ABSTRACT Background: Sudden cardiac death in young athletes is a rare and tragic occurrence. A preparticipation physical examination (PPE) is widely used to identify athletes who might be at risk of sudden cardiac death. High school athletes in Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties in Florida undergo annual sports physicals through a local sports medicine outreach program. A resting electrocardiogram (ECG) was implemented during the 2022 PPE. The aim of this study was to document the efficacy of implementing ECGs and to highlight the cardiac abnormalities identified in young athletes as part of a 1-d PPE. Methods: In total, 1,357 high school athletes (males = 879 and females = 478; age, 15.1 ± 1.3 years) completed a resting 12-lead ECG. These were interpreted by cardiologists using the International Criteria, with abnormal results being further investigated before final sports clearance. Descriptive statistics regarding ECG findings were analyzed. Results: Twenty-three ECGs (1.7%) were classified as “abnormal” and were referred for further testing. Of these, 14 athletes were cleared to participate in sports, and 6 declined further evaluation. Three athletes, all males, were not cleared for sports participation. Of these, 2 athletes presented with Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome (0.15%), and 1 athlete (0.10%) presented with dilated cardiomyopathy. Conclusion: Adding ECG screening as part of a single-day PPE can be used as a tool in identifying cardiac abnormalities among young athletes. To our knowledge, this is the highest number of athletes screened during a PPE in 1 d nationwide.
BackgroundDue to the high metabolic and physical demands in soccer, an optimal strength and conditioning program is essential.The benefits of resistance training and high-intensity interval training in young athletes has been well documented; however, the effect of a concurrent strength and metabolic conditioning program on female soccer players has yet to be investigated. PurposeThis study examined the effects of an 8-week concurrent strength and metabolic conditioning program on body composition, flexibility, speed, agility, anaerobic capacity, strength, and power in female soccer players. MethodsBody composition and performance testing measures were recorded in female soccer players (n=14, age=16±1.0yrs) before and after an 8-week sports performance camp that combined high-intensity interval training methods and periodized resistance training.Performance testing included 3-site skinfolds, sit and reach, pro agility test, 40-yd sprint, 300-yd shuttle run, and vertical jump.Strength testing included a 5-repetition maximum back squat, shoulder press, and bench press, and a 3-repetition maximum power clean.Comparisons were made using a paired samples t-test, and Pearson's correlations between variables were calculated. ResultsSignificant improvements were made in vertical jump (p<0.05),pro agility test (p<0.05),40 yd sprint (p<0.05),squat (p<0.05),shoulder press (p<0.05),bench press (p<0.05), and power clean (p<0.05).There were significant correlations between power, agility and speed performance, and between power and strength. ConclusionA preseason concurrent strength and metabolic conditioning program can improve soccer players' explosive strength and performance.Training protocols that use low volume and high loads (3 sets of 5-RM) to improve neural adaptations and avoid muscular hypertrophy should be studied in future research.
BACKGROUND: Similar to the general US population, the rate of cardiovascular disease, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity in military populations is growing. Android obesity, a type of obesity where excess fat accumulates around the thoracic and abdominal cavities, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic deficiencies. Military populations are confronted with high physiological demands therefore it is crucial for them to be in good physical condition and minimize excess body fat in the thoracic and abdominal areas. PURPOSE: This research investigated the effects of a 7-week periodized training program on body composition of ROTC cadets. METHODS: Subjects consisted of 23 Army and Air Force ROTC cadets (male=18, female=6), Age (yrs)= 2.26±5.96, Height (cm)=172±8.68, Weight (kg)=72.98±12.91. The intervention group (IG n=14) trained for 1 hour/day, 4 days/week and the control group (CG n=9) participated in traditional military training protocol for 1 hour/day, 3 days/week. RESULTS: Findings revealed that both groups demonstrated a significant decrease in overall body fat percentage (p=0.005) pre to post training, but only the IG demonstrated a significant training effect evidenced by decreases in the abdominal area (p=0.009) and mid-axillary (p=0.025). CONCLUSION: Although this research demonstrated that periodized resistance training reduces abdominal body fat among ROTC cadets, it is important that future studies address certain limitations (small sample size and length of training period) this study encountered. Due to the health risks associated with android obesity, including increased cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk factors, implementing a periodized training program may be beneficial in diverse military populations.
PURPOSE: A 12-lead exercise stress test is a screening tool used to detect abnormalities that may predispose collegiate athletes to sudden cardiac death. Experts in the field have developed new standardized criteria to better interpret electrocardiogram (ECG) in athletes. Recent research suggests that African American athletes are more prone to cardiac abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the Seattle Criteria to the most recently created International Criteria in regard to ECG abnormalities in Division II African-American collegiate athletes. METHODS: Forty four African American male athletes (football, basketball, soccer) (age 22.2 + 1.4 yrs; height 1.82 + 0.1 m; weight 88.8 + 14.9 kg) completed cardiovascular screening with a resting 12-lead ECG analysis which was read and interpreted, according to each criterion, by an expert in the field of exercise science. ECGs were classified as 'normal' and 'abnormal' according to the parameters of each criterion, and any abnormal condition was noted. The sensitivity and specificity of both criteria were computed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the sensitivity between both criteria (98.1%-100%). The International Criteria was more specific than the Seattle Criteria (91.2-94.1% vs. 87.4-88.2%). Applying the International Criteria when evaluating African American college athletes resulted in a significant decrease in abnormal ECGs and improvement of the positive predictive value of an abnormal ECG. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that following the International Criteria for ECG interpretation significantly reduced the total abnormal and false-positive ECG rates in African American collegiate athletes compared to the Seattle Criteria without compromising sensitivity. It is important to continue to conduct ECG research on athletes of different ethnicities and races in order to further define valid and reliable criteria for this underrepresented population.
https://youtu.be/ccg0hX-FKqM INTRODUCTION The use of electrocardiograms (ECGs) in preparticipation evaluations (PPE) for athletes remains a topic of debate in the United States. Over the years, athlete-specific ECG criteria have evolved, leading to greater specificity and reduced false positive rates. Recent comparisons have been made between local physicians and those from specialized centers in their consistency of ECG interpretation using the 2017 International Criteria. However, there has been limited research on whether novice ECG interpreters, such as undergraduate students, can be trained to accurately interpret athletes’ ECGs using the 2017 International Criteria and further, be able to identify the abnormal condition seen on the ECG. This study aims to evaluate the overall and individual inter-rater reliability of novice ECG interpreters and exercise physiologist when compared to a cardiologist. METHODS Three novice ECG interpreters (undergraduate exercise science students) received training in interpreting athlete ECGs using the 2017 International Criteria over the course of one semester under the guidance of an expert reader. During an annual high school sports screening event, 1,350 ECGs were collected and assigned unique identification numbers. After the screening event, three novice interpreters (students), a cardiologist, and an Exercise Physiologist (exercise science professor) independently classified the ECGs as either "normal" or "abnormal" and identified the findings on abnormal ECGs based on the International Criteria. All participants were blinded to cardiologist classifications made during the screening event. Information on the athlete’s age, gender, race/ethnicity, and sport was included with the ECGs. Overall agreement between the cardiologist, exercise physiologist, and three students was assessed using a Fleiss’ kappa analysis and individual pair agreement was calculated using Crosstabs. RESULTS 1,350 athlete ECGs (males = 879; females = 471, age (mean + SD) 15.09 + 1.3y) were reviewed and 51 (3.8%) abnormal cases were identified and further diagnosed. The overall inter-rater agreement between a cardiologist, an exercise physiologist, and three student readers in classifying an ECG as normal or abnormal was rated as good (k = 0.711, p < .001). Individual agreement between which ECGs were classified as normal ranged from moderate, (k = .585) to very good (k = .845). Abnormal readings were further analyzed, and overall abnormal diagnosis agreement was rated as moderate (k = .432, p = 0.00) with individual agreement on abnormal diagnosis ranging from poor (k = .196) to very good (k = .851). CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that novice ECG readers could correctly classify ECGs based on the International Criteria as “normal and abnormal” but may need further training in accurately identifying ECG abnormalities in athletes.
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