Lynsey Forsythe, Keith George, Michael Papadakis, Nathan Mill, Matt Daniels, David Oxborough
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Pre-participation cardiac screening (PCS) of "Super-League" rugby football league (RFL) athletes is mandatory but may be completed at any time point. The aim of this study was to assess cardiac electrical, structural and functional variation across the competitive season.
Methods: Elite, male, RFL athletes from a single Super-League club underwent cardiac evaluation using electrocardiography (ECG), 2D echocardiography and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) at four time points across the RFL season; (1) End pre-season (ENDPRE), (2) mid-season (MIDCOMP), (3) end-season (ENDCOMP) and (4) End off-season (ENDOFF). Training loads for each time point were also determined. One-way ANOVA with post-hoc Bonferroni were used for statistical analyses.
Results: Total workload undertaken by athletes was lower at both MIDCOMP and ENDCOMP compared to ENDPRE (P < 0.001). ECG patterns were normal with training-related changes that were largely consistent across assessments. Structural data did not vary across assessment points. Standard functional data was not different across assessment points but apical rotation and twist were higher at ENDPRE (9.83˚ and 16.55˚, respectively compared to all other time points (MIDCOMP, 6.13˚ and 12.62˚; ENDCOMP, 5.84˚ and 12.12˚; ENDOFF 6.60˚ and 12.35˚).
Conclusions: Despite some seasonal variation in training load, the athletes' ECG and cardiac structure were stable across a competitive season. Seasonal variation in left ventricular (LV) apical rotation and twist, associated with higher training loads, should be noted in the context of PCS.
期刊介绍:
Echo Research and Practice aims to be the premier international journal for physicians, sonographers, nurses and other allied health professionals practising echocardiography and other cardiac imaging modalities. This open-access journal publishes quality clinical and basic research, reviews, videos, education materials and selected high-interest case reports and videos across all echocardiography modalities and disciplines, including paediatrics, anaesthetics, general practice, acute medicine and intensive care. Multi-modality studies primarily featuring the use of cardiac ultrasound in clinical practice, in association with Cardiac Computed Tomography, Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance or Nuclear Cardiology are of interest. Topics include, but are not limited to: 2D echocardiography 3D echocardiography Comparative imaging techniques – CCT, CMR and Nuclear Cardiology Congenital heart disease, including foetal echocardiography Contrast echocardiography Critical care echocardiography Deformation imaging Doppler echocardiography Interventional echocardiography Intracardiac echocardiography Intraoperative echocardiography Prosthetic valves Stress echocardiography Technical innovations Transoesophageal echocardiography Valve disease.