Comparing Risk of Heat Illness Based on Peak Core Temps During Preseason Football Camp Across 3 Different Age Levels

University of Minnesota (UMN)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Exertional Heat Illness; Hydration Status

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01954537

1307M38681

Details and patient eligibility

About

To collect field data in professional, collegiate, and high school football players to determine how they respond physiologically to the rigors of preseason training environment. Investigators will compare core temperature, hydration status, practice guidelines regarding rest and hydration, and baseline knowledge of heat illness and hydration among the three levels. The hypothesis is higher peak temperatures will be observed in the younger less experienced football players.

Full description

Observations will occur over a 4-5 day period at the start of pre-season training camp. Researchers will meet with the high school volunteers and their parents to discuss the study and obtain informed consent prior to participating. Participants will swallow the HQInc CorTemp pill at least three hours (or late the night before) before practice. Temperature readings will be scanned every 15-30 minutes throughout practice. Pre and post practice weights will be recorded as well as urine specific gravity to help assess hydration status. Participants will also fill out a short 1 page questionnaire regarding their prior heat acclimatization, sleep habits, and baseline knowledge of hydration and heat illness. Protocol will be the same at all three age/competition levels.

Enrollment: 22 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 14+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Football player on one of the teams from the pre-selected teams. Male.

Exclusion Criteria: based on being able to swallow HQInc CorTemp Pill

1. Any athlete weighing less than eighty (80) pounds.
2. Any athlete with any known or suspected diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Any athlete with impairment of the gag reflex.
4. Any athlete with previous gastrointestinal surgery.
5. Any athlete with history of problems with their esophagus.
6. Any athlete who might undergo an MRI scan before the temperature sensor has been eliminated from the body.
7. Any athlete with problems moving food through their gastrointestinal tract.
8. Any athlete having a cardiac pacemaker or other implanted electro medical device.

Trial design

22 participants in 3 patient groups

Professional football players

Description:

Offensive and defensive professional football players ranging in age from 22 to 30 years old.

Collegiate Football Players

Description:

Division III collegiate football players ranging in age from 20 to 23 years old.

High School Football Players

Description:

High school football players ranging in age from 16 to 18 years old.