Baseline Aerobic Fitness in High School and College Football Players: Critical for Prescribing Safe Exercise Regimens

Background: Nontraumatic fatalities occur on a regular basis in high school (HS) and college football athletes, primarily in obese linemen performing high-intensity exercise. One contributing factor to these deaths may be a mismatch between baseline aerobic (cardiorespiratory) fitness and exercise regimens. Hypothesis: There is a wide range of aerobic fitness in HS and college football players. Body mass index (BMI) is a safe and simple method for estimating baseline aerobic fitness. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 79 HS football athletes who had VO2Peak (mL·kg−1·min−1) measured during the offseason. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine if BMI (obese, overweight, and normal; kg/m2), position played (linemen vs other), year in school (freshmen vs other), and/or race (African American vs White) were risk factors for poor aerobic fitness. A separate cohort of 135 (48 HS; 87 college) football athletes performed a 6-minute run test to determine speed (miles/min), extrapolate VO2Max, and calculate reference values for suggested upper threshold safe starting speeds (85% of maximum) for aerobic training based on BMI. The relationship between BMI and VO2Peak was assessed. The exercise regimens (speeds) of 2 collegiate football fatalities from the public domain were used to predict their VO2Max values. Results: Mean VO2Peak (mL·kg−1·min−1) was 38.5 ± 8.6 (range 19.1-60.6); when grouped by BMI, low scores (<40) were found in 87.5% of obese (32.4 ± 7.7), 47.8% of overweight (40.8 ± 7.6), and 45.2% of normal (41.4 ± 7.8) athletes. VO2Peak was significantly lower in linemen (32.8 ± 6.4; P = 0.007) compared with nonlineman (41.8 ± 7.9), and in obese players (by BMI; 32.4; P = 0.019) compared with nonobese players (41.4 ± 7.6), but did not differ by age, year in school, or race. Means for speed (min/mile) and extrapolated VO2Max (mL·kg−1·min−1) for the 6-minute run test by BMI groups were both significantly different ( P = 0.001) for normal (7.0 ± 0.6; 51.1 ± 2.6), overweight (7.6 ± 0.8; 46.5 ± 3.2), and obese (8.9 ± 1.5; 36.8 ± 5.9) athletes. There was a significant negative correlation ( r = −0.551; P = 0.001; R2 = 0.304) between VO2Peak and BMI. Safe starting speed recommendations for running 1 mile range from 7.3 to 12.1 min/mile for BMIs 20 to 40 kg/m2 for HS and college athletes. For the 2 fatalities (mean, BMI of 36.5 kg/m2) repetitive sprint speeds were 49 and 89% higher than our safe starting speeds for their BMI. Conclusion: A large spectrum of baseline aerobic fitness was noted in HS and college football players. Obese players and linemen had statistically lower baseline aerobic fitness, a major risk factor for possible heat illness. BMI is an acceptable surrogate for VO2Peak and can be employed to develop safe training regimens without the need for a maximum fitness test, which can place the athlete at risk for a medical event. Clinical Relevance: Knowledge of BMI provides an estimate of baseline aerobic fitness and a foundation for prescribing safe, individualized exercise regimens.

Effect of Tai Chi Combined With Kinesio Taping on Posture Control of Football Players With FAI: Protocol For a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Functional ankle instability (FAI) of college football players is an important risk factor affecting their training and competition. Physical therapy and appropriate sports intervention can improve the stability of FAI patients. Previous studies have shown that Tai Chi (TC) and Kinesio Taping (KT) can improve the posture control ability of FAI patients. However, whether Tai Chi combined with kinesio taping effect patch can be used as an effective exercise for the rehabilitation of college football players with FAI is not yet proven.Methods/design: 53 FAI college football players were randomly assigned to 3 groups: TC+KT (n=20); TC+KTp (Placebo Kinesio taping, KTp, placebo) (n=17); KT (N=16). The TC+KT group received TC and KT functional correction technical intervention, the TC+KTp group received TC and placebo KT technical intervention, and the KT group received KT functional correction technical intervention. Each of the three groups received 30 minutes each time, 3 times a week, for a total of 6 weeks of intervention training. Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and UniPedal Stance Test (UST) at baseline (before), 4 weeks after intervention (middle) and 6 weeks after intervention (after) , Toe Touch Test (TTT) for evaluation.Discussion: For the first time in this trail, the impact will be evaluated. If the results are the same as expected, they will provide evidence that Tai Chi combined with kinesio taping sticking intervention can promote the posture control of college football players with FAI.。Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900027253.Registered on 6 November 2019.