Dr. Lauren E Adlof

Background: Sudden cardiac death in young athletes is a rare and tragic occurrence. A pre-participation physical examination (PPE) is widely used to identify athletes who might be at risk of sudden cardiac death. High school athletes in Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties in Florida undergo annual sports physicals through a local sports medicine outreach program. A resting electrocardiogram (ECG) was implemented during the 2022 PPE. The aim of this study was to document the efficacy of implementing ECGs and to highlight the cardiac abnormalities identified in young athletes as part of a 1-d PPE.
Methods: In total, 1,357 high school athletes (males = 879 and females = 478; age, 15.1 ± 1.3 years) completed a resting 12-lead ECG. These were interpreted by cardiologists using the International Criteria, with abnormal results being further investigated before final sports clearance. Descriptive statistics regarding ECG findings were analyzed.
Results: Twenty-three ECGs (1.7%) were classified as “abnormal” and were referred for further testing. Of these, 14 athletes were cleared to participate in sports, and 6 declined further evaluation. Three athletes, all males, were not cleared for sports participation. Of these, 2 athletes presented with Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome (0.15%), and 1 athlete (0.10%) presented with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Conclusion: Adding ECG screening as part of a single-day PPE can be used as a tool in identifying cardiac abnormalities among young athletes. To our knowledge, this is the highest number of athletes screened during a PPE in 1 d nationwide.

Background: Sudden cardiac death in young athletes is a rare and tragic occurrence. A preparticipation physical examination (PPE) is widely used to identify athletes who might be at risk of sudden cardiac death. High school athletes in Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties in Florida undergo annual sports physicals through a local sports medicine outreach program. A resting electrocardiogram (ECG) was implemented during the 2022 PPE. The aim of this study was to document the efficacy of implementing ECGs and to highlight the cardiac abnormalities identified in young athletes as part of a 1-d PPE.
Methods: In total, 1,357 high school athletes (males = 879 and females = 478; age, 15.1 ± 1.3 years) completed a resting 12-lead ECG. These were interpreted by cardiologists using the International Criteria, with abnormal results being further investigated before final sports clearance. Descriptive statistics regarding ECG findings were analyzed.
Results: Twenty-three ECGs (1.7%) were classified as " abnormal " and were referred for further testing. Of these, 14 athletes were cleared to participate in sports, and 6 declined further evaluation. Three athletes, all males, were not cleared for sports participation. Of these, 2 athletes presented with Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome (0.15%), and 1 athlete (0.10%) presented with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Conclusion: Adding ECG screening as part of a single-day PPE can be used as a tool in identifying cardiac abnormalities among young athletes. To our knowledge, this is the highest number of athletes screened during a PPE in 1 d nationwide.

ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) language model, holds significant promise for improving the quality and efficiency of teaching and learning. However, its potential challenges and disruptions in education systems require further investigation for a deeper understanding and mitigation. Given that ChatGPT is already being utilized and complete prohibition is unlikely, it becomes crucial to consider how educators can harness its potential to enhance teaching and learning experiences, assuming successful implementation. This article explores the potential benefits and disruptions within the current education system, and proposes strategies for integrating ChatGPT into educational settings from a constructivist learning perspective. It focuses on four educational system attributes: context, collaboration, conversation, and construction. The article particularly emphasizes the utilization of ChatGPT as a means, rather than an end, to enhance student learning within a constructivist learning environment. This approach aims to address present concerns and challenges effectively.

Undergraduate student retention is considered a critical issue in higher education, due to its impact on student success, degree completion, and the financial health of universities (Cataldi et al., 2018; Cornelius & Cavanaugh, 2016; Hermes, Community College Journal, 82(4), 26, 2012; Tinto, NACADA Journal, 19(2), 5-9, 1999). Higher education leaders have recognized the impact of this issue on student success, which warrants an analysis of the factors that influence student retention, and rationale for possible solutions. The purpose of this article is to present the application of the Human Performance Technology (HPT) model to address these institutional concerns in a higher education setting. This article focuses specifically on the performance analysis phase of the model, including the organizational analysis, environmental analysis, gap analysis, and cause analysis stages, and its implications for intervention design, evaluation, and change management in this organizational setting. We discuss the practical application of the HPT model as a valuable process of analysis and solution exploration.

Purpose
Two-thirds of sudden cardiac deaths are attributable to underlying cardiovascular conditions in young collegiate athletes. A 12-lead exercise stress test is a screening tool that can detect these abnormalities that may predispose collegiate athletes to sudden cardiac death, and can ensure athletes meet the physical demands of training and competition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics of Division II collegiate athletes using the Seattle Criteria.

Methods
Fifty two athletes (males = 26; females = 26) of various ethnicities (Caucasian = 65%, Latino/Hispanic = 20%, and African American = 15%); from soccer (27%), tennis (17%), basketball (15%), softball (14%), cross country (9%), volleyball (6%), football (6%), and swimming (6%) completed cardiovascular screening with resting and exercise 12-lead ECG analysis. ECG abnormalities and anthropometrics were compared across race, gender, and sports using an ANOVA. Chi-square analysis was used to test for differences in the frequency of ECG findings across gender, race, and sports.

Results
Although sport was not a predictor for an abnormal ECG, 73% of the athletes presented with athletes’ heart configuration, which was significantly higher in males than females (P = 0.02). The highest occurrence of these adaptations was observed in 100% of Latino/Hispanic athletes, compared to 75% of African American and 64% of Caucasian athletes.

Conclusion
With newer and more sensitive ECG screening criteria, the prevalence of false-positive tests is declining. Future research should focus on advancing the sensitivity and specificity of ECG interpretation in more diverse athletic populations regarding race and gender. The increasing incidence of sudden cardiac death in collegiate athletes warrants future research that evaluates the impact of implementing the 12-lead ECG as a standard screening tool for collegiate athletes.

Background: Due to the high metabolic and physical demands in soccer, an optimal strength and conditioning program is essential. The benefits of resistance training and high-intensity interval training in young athletes has been well documented; however, the effect of a
concurrent strength and metabolic conditioning program on female soccer players has yet to be investigated.

Purpose: This study examined the effects of an 8-week concurrent strength and metabolic conditioning program on body composition, flexibility, speed, agility, anaerobic capacity, strength, and power in female soccer players.

Methods: Body composition and performance testing measures were recorded in female soccer players (n=14, age=16±1.0 yrs) before and after an 8-week sports performance camp that combined high-intensity interval training methods and periodized resistance training. Performance testing included 3-site skinfolds, sit and reach, pro agility test, 40-yd sprint, 300-yd shuttle run, and vertical jump. Strength testing included a 5-repetition maximum back squat, shoulder press, and bench press, and a 3-repetition maximum power clean. Comparisons were made using a paired samples t-test, and Pearson’s correlations between variables were calculated.

Results: Significant improvements were made in vertical jump (p<0.05), pro agility test (p<0.05), 40 yd sprint (p<0.05), squat (p<0.05), shoulder press (p<0.05), bench press (p<0.05), and power clean (p<0.05). There were significant correlations between power, agility and speed performance, and between power and strength.

Conclusion: A preseason concurrent strength and metabolic conditioning program can improve soccer players’ explosive strength and performance. Training protocols that use low volume and high loads (3 sets of 5-RM) to improve neural adaptations and avoid muscular
hypertrophy should be studied in future research.

Background: Functional movement screening (FMS) and Y-balance test (YBT) are assessment procedures used to examine the ‘quality’ of movement patterns and identify individuals that might have specific limitations or asymmetries. Low FMS and YBT scores have been linked with a higher risk of injury among athletic populations. Since FMS and YBT are becoming more widely used screening tools, it is important to examine the various training programs that could improve FMS and YBT scores.

Purpose: This pilot study examined the effects of a 10-week periodized and traditional military training program on FMS, and upper and lower quadrant YBT scores of Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Cadets.

Methods: Subjects consisted of 36 Army and Air Force ROTC cadets (male=24, female=12), Age 19.7(yrs)±5.96, Height (cm)=175.7±9.28, Weight(kg)=75.70±13.41. The periodized, intervention group (IG n=24) trained for 1 hour/day, 4 days/week and the control group (CG
n=12) participated in traditional ROTC training protocol for 1 hour/day, 3 days/week. A 2×2 mixed factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare mean change values of the FMS, upper, and lower quadrant YBT scores for intervention and control groups.

Results: A significant interaction (p≤0.05) was observed for FMS scores. The control group had a much lower initial FMS score and demonstrated more improvement than the intervention group. Both groups demonstrated a significant increase in left side YBT upper (p=0.03) and lower (p=0.02) quadrant scores after 10-weeks of training.

Conclusions: Since FMS and YBT scores are being used more frequently as screening tools for risk of injury, it is important to study methods that will improve FMS and YBT scores in diverse athletic populations. This study found larger improvements in FMS scores in ROTC
cadets participating in a traditional military training program compared to cadets participating in a periodized strength training program. Scores in the left side of the YBT upper and lower quadrants were improved in both groups suggesting multiple training programs can improve function in non-dominant sides or asymmetries. Future studies are warranted and should address certain limitations that this study encountered (sample size and length of training period). Further exploration of FMS and YBT scores and mechanisms of improvement in tactical athletic populations would be beneficial.