The Sydney and J.L. Huffines Institute

Huffines Research Team Test Texas A&M Football Players for Abnormalities in Electrocardiograms and Present Results at International Conference

Faculty, Graduate, and Undergraduate students from the Sydney and J.L. Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance are examining incoming Freshman football players for ECG indicators of heart problems. Other tests include measures of strength, flexibility, and body composition. Collectively, these tests help determine if players are at risk for heart problems that sometimes occur in young athletes and may cause anything fluid loss during a hot and humid practice to sudden death. Initial results were presented at the international American College of Sports Medicine meeting in the Summer of 2007. A summary of the initial research findings appear below:

Characteristics of the Electrocardiogram of Incoming Division I Freshmen or Transfer Collegiate Football Players Stephen F. Crouse, FACSM, Brent E. Hansen, Thomas H. Meade, Greg S. Miller, Grady Kaiser, John W. Womack, John S. Green, FACSM, Nicholas P. Greene, and Ben Pollard. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. Scott & White Clinic, College Station, TX.

PURPOSE: To determine the type and frequency of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities in incoming Division I freshmen or transfer football players. METHODS: Modified twelve-lead ECG’s at rest and during maximal exercise were obtained from 65 freshmen and 11 transfer football players at a division I university. The players’ mean age, height, and weight were 18.6±1.5yrs, 188.3±6.4cm, and 104.9±21kg, respectively. The PR intervals (PRI), width of the QRS complexes (QRS), main cardiac vector directions (AXIS), and QT intervals (QT) for each athlete’s resting ECG were measured. A cardiologist also examined each resting and exercise ECG for abnormalities including Sinus arrhythmia (SA), Sinus bradycardia (SB), Sinus Tachycardia (ST), Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), Early repolarization (ER), Non specific T-wave and ST-segment changes (TST), and Exercise induced arrhythmias (EXA). Chi-Square analysis was used to determine if a racial difference (Caucasian vs. African-American) existed in the frequency of ECG abnormalities. RESULTS: Significantly more African-American players (88.5%) demonstrated one or more ECG abnormalities compared to Caucasian players (68.2%) (Chi-Square=4.4, df=1, p=.036). See table for ECG complex interval means along with the number and corresponding percentage of players with resting or exercise ECG abnormalities.

Mean

PRI

(sec)

Mean

QRS

(sec)

Mean

AXIS

(degrees)

Mean

(sec)

LVH

TST

EXA

0.164

0.084

0.372

18.4%

11.8%

1.3%

64.5%

35.6%

6.6%

1.3%

CONCLUSION: Although the means for commonly measured resting ECG complex intervals were within normal limits, there is a relatively high frequency of ECG abnormalities in incoming Division I freshmen or transfer football players. Further, these data suggest that African-Americans players may have a higher incidence of ECG abnormalities than do their Caucasian counterparts.