Exertional Heat Illness Risk Factors and Physiological Responses of Youth Football Players

Author(s)

Susan W. Yeargin, Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. Electronic address: syeargin@mailbox.sc.edu.
John J. Dickinson, Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; Palmetto Health/USC Orthopedic Center, Keenan High School, Columbia, SC 29203, USA.
Dawn M. Emerson, Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
Jessica Koller, Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; Surgi-Care Inc., Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Toni M. Torres-McGehee, Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Zachary Y. Kerr, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8700, USA.

Document Type

Article

Subject Area(s)

Adolescent; Age Factors; Body Height; Body Mass Index; Body Surface Area; Body Temperature (physiology); Body Weight; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Environment; Football (physiology); Gastrointestinal Tract (physiology); Heart Rate (physiology); Heat Stress Disorders (etiology); Humans; Male; Rest; Risk Factors; Southeastern United States; Team Sports; Time Factors; Work; Youth Sports

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine which intrinsic and extrinsic exertional heat illness (EHI) risk factors exist in youth American football players and observe perceptual and physiological responses of players during events (games and practices). METHODS: Cross-sectional cohort study observing 63 youth football players, varying in position. Independent variables were league (weight-restricted (WR, n = 27) and age-restricted (AR, n = 36)) and event type. Dependent variables were anthropometrics, work-to-rest ratio, and wet bulb globe temperature. Descriptive variables included preparticipation examination and uniform configuration. A subset of 16 players participated in physiological variables (heart rate and gastrointestinal temperature). Data collection occurred on 7 AR and 8 WR nonconsecutive practices and the first 3 games of the season. RESULTS: Mean values for anthropometric variables were higher (p < 0.05) in the AR league than the WR league. Work time (χ (1,111) = 4.232; p = 0.039) and rest time (χ (1,111) = 43.41; p < 0.001) were significantly greater for games, but ratios were significantly higher for practices (χ (1,111) = 40.62; p < 0.001). The majority of events (77%) observed were in black and red flag wet bulb globe temperature risk categories. A total of 57% of the players had a preparticipation examination, and up to 82% of events observed were in full uniforms. Individual gastrointestinal temperature and heart rate responses ranged widely and no players reached critical thresholds. CONCLUSION: Extrinsic (disproportionate work ratios, environmental conditions) and intrinsic (higher body mass index) EHI risk factors exist in youth football. Certain risk factors may be influenced by event and league type. National youth football organizations need to create thorough guidelines that address EHI risk factors for local leagues to adopt.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2019.03.002

Publication Info

Journal of Sport and Health Science, Issue 1, 2021, pages 91-98.

Rights

© 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Shanghai University of Sport. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

APA Citation

Yeargin, S. W., Dickinson, J. J., Emerson, D. M., Koller, J., Torres-McGehee, T. M., & Kerr, Z. Y. (2021). Exertional heat illness risk factors and physiological responses of youth football players. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 10(1), 91–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2019.03.002