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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

Official Title
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Using Peak Core Temperature in Hot Preseason American Football Practice to Compare and Contrast Risk of Heat Illness at High School, College, and Professional Levels.

Conditions
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Exertional Heat Illness, Hydration Status

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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 14 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Professional football players<br>Offensive and defensive professional football players ranging in age from 22 to 30 years old. | |
| Collegiate Football Players<br>Division III collegiate football players ranging in age from 20 to 23 years old. | |
| High School Football Players<br>High school football players ranging in age from 16 to 18 years old. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Peak core body temperature | Measured via HQInc ingestible core thermometer throughout practices. | The first 3-4 days of preseason football practice for each cohort. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hydration status before and after preseason football practice | Measured via urine specific gravity and body weights before and after practice. | Over first 3-4 days of each cohort's preseason camp. | 
| Baseline knowledge of hydration status and heat illness in football | Athletes will be administered a 14 question survey covering various topics with regards to practice regulation, heat illness, and hydration. | Up to August 30th, 2013 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Exertional heat illness, Hydration Status, Preseason football, heat stroke