College Athletes Research Articles

Cardiac remodeling in university athletes: non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging study.

Early detection of exercise-induced cardiac anomalies is a key to clinical management for individuals engaged in vigorous exercise training. This study aimed to investigate cardiovascular adaptation in university students engaged in intensive exercises using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. For this prospective, single-center study, 50 university students who finished a four-year intensively endurance training and 23 age- and gender- matched controls received cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Exercised participants were further divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. Left ventricular volumes and volumes indexed to the body surface were calculated. Global peak strains and systolic and diastolic peak strain rates were derived from cine images using a feature tracking technique. Analysis of variance analyses were performed. Fifty exercised participants (mean age: 21±1 y; 43 males, including 21 symptomatic and 29 asymptomatic cases) and 23 normal controls (mean age: 21±2 y, 20 males) were evaluated. Exercised participants exhibited a higher end-diastolic left ventricular volume (76.0±10.6 ml vs. 63.5±7.5 ml, p<0.001), a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (59.9%±5.3 vs. 63.0%±3.2, p=0.002) and a reduced global longitudinal strain (-18.25±3.32 vs.-19.85±1.29, p=0.004) than the normal control participants. Symptomatic excised participants showed reduced peak strains compared to both asymptomatic participants and normal controls. Only a circumferential diastolic peak strain rate was reduced when compared between asymptomatic cases and controls. In conclusions, highly intensive exercises could result in elevated left ventricular volumes and reduced myocardial strains for young university students. Furthermore, reduced myocardial strains were found for those symptomatic cases which remain within non-pathological ranges.

Case Report of a Pneumomediastinum Secondary to Pulmonary Barotrauma Due to Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus Diving in a College Athlete

Case Report of a Pneumomediastinum Secondary to Pulmonary Barotrauma Due to Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus Diving in a College Athlete

Comparative Analysis of Handgrip Strength and Handgrip Strength-to-BMI Ratio Among Male Thai Ultimate Frisbee Athletes, Male University Athletes, and Male University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ultimate Frisbee has seen remarkable global growth, attracting millions of participants across community programs, educational institutions, and competitive venues. Hand Grip Strength (HGS) is vital for executing effective disc throws, making it a key performance factor. This study aimed to (1) compare HGS among male Thai Ultimate Frisbee athletes (UA), male university sports athletes (USA), and male sedentary university students (SUS), and (2) explore correlations between HGS, muscle strength, experience, weekly training duration, and peak scoring performance. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 277 males aged 16 to 20 years: UA (n = 96), USA (n = 99), and SUS (n = 82). HGS was assessed bilaterally in a straight-arm position, recording the highest value from two trials. The HGS-to-BMI ratio was calculated for each participant. Data collected included age, weight, height, BMI, athletic experience, weekly training duration, and peak scoring performance. ANOVA was used to analyze differences in HGS and the HGS-to-BMI ratio among groups. Pearson's correlation was used to assess relationships among variables, while an independent t-test compared UA and USA groups. Significant differences in HGS and HGS-to-BMI ratios were found among the groups (p &lt; 0.001). UA demonstrated superior relative handgrip strength compared to both USA and SUS. SUS had the lowest values for both left and right HGS and the HGS-to-BMI ratio. A notable correlation was identified between left-hand grip strength and peak scoring performance in UA (r = 0.211, p = 0.001). Additionally, weekly training frequency positively correlated with peak scoring performance in both athlete groups (p &lt; 0.05). This study underscores the importance of training duration, experience, peak performance scores, and metrics like HGS and the HGS-to-BMI ratio in enhancing athletic performance, offering insights for coaches to develop tailored training programs.

Stress Management in Athletes: Predictive Effects of Sleep Deprivation-Induced Cognitive Control Changes on Competition Performance.

Effective stress management is crucial for optimal competition performance in athletes. Sleep deprivation (SD) can elevate physiological and psychological stress, and the SD-changed cognitive and emotion may reflect stress management capability and hold the predictive possibility for athletes' performance in official competitions over some time, however it lacks evidence. Here, we aim to increase stress level for athletes by 24-hour SD and identify the predictive effects of cognitive and emotional changes after 24h-SD on sports performance in official competitions over around 1.5 months. Sixty-five winter sports athletes (35 males) were recruited from college (test set) and professional athletes (validation set) separately. The anxiety and cortisol levels were assessed at baseline, after 24h-SD, and official competition. Athletes underwent cognitive tasks (STROOP, Go/NoGo, Competitive Reaction Time Task, and Iowa Gambling Task) and the event-related potential (ERP) recording at baseline and after SD. Competition performance levels (supernormal, normal and abnormal) were categorized based on a consensus of subjective and objective evaluations. We found anxiety and cortisol levels following 24h-SD were equaled with those observed of official competition. Notably, only the decreased incongruent STROOP response after 24h-SD was negatively associated with performance in official competition. The corresponding P3 component, particularly the delta frequency at central lobe, largely mediated this effect. These findings highlight that the athletes effectively employ cognitive skills to manage stress under acute SD tend to exhibit superior performance.Significance Statement Predictive methods and biomarkers for athletic performance are currently lacking. Our study first confirmed that the changes in attention control after 24h-SD held unique predictive effects for athletes' competition performance over around 1.5 months, and the delta frequency of the P3 EEG component at the central lobe may contribute to it. This study emphasized that athletes can harness additional cognitive resources to enhance stress management, which could lower the risk of abnormal performance in official competitions. Cognitive predictors after SD can assist athletes and coaches in monitoring training state, enhancing stress management to optimize athletic performance, and adjusting athlete participation arrangements.

Application of the British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification in Collegiate Football Athletes: A Retrospective, Observational Study.

Lower extremity muscle tears are common sports injuries. The British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification (BAMIC) may provide clinical guidance for tears although its value in American football and college athletes is unknown. Clinical outcomes, specifically time to return to play (RTP) (TRTP), in college American football athletes with activity-related hamstring (HS) and quadriceps (QD) tears will be associated with BAMIC. Retrospective cohort study. Level 3. American football college athletes who sustained a HS or QD tear and underwent magnetic resonance imaging within 7 days at 1 institution during the 2023 season were included. TRTP and reinjury rate (RIR) for HS and QD tears classified by BAMIC and injury characteristics were evaluated. Of the 24 HS and 10 QD tears in 21 (17.3%) of 121 athletes (20 ± 1.2 years; 100.0% male), most (60.0%) were BAMIC 2a-3b. Most (89.3%) injuries occurred before the season, and all occurred in practice. Overall median TRTP was 26 days (interquartile range, 17.8-33.0), translating to about 4 weeks missed play. The RIR was 19.0% (4/21). Most (75.0%) reinjuries occurred before RTP. There was no significant relationship between BAMIC and TRTP, although TRTP was less for grade 0 injuries and greater TRTP for injury site "c," albeit with small effect sizes. Activity-related HS and QD tears are common in American football college athletes, particularly in preseason and practice. Injured athletes missed about 3 to 4 games, regardless of BAMIC, with 1 in 5 athletes suffering a reinjury. There was no relationship between BAMIC or muscle group and TRTP. This appraisal of BAMIC in college and American football athletes highlights the prevalence of muscle tears and the need for prevention. Although BAMIC lacked value in this study, larger studies are needed to evaluate BAMIC in this population.

EP6.94 Utilization of the Functional Lower Extremity Evaluation (FLEE) in Return-to-Sport Rehabilitation Protocol Following Hip Arthroscopy in Collegiate Athletes: A Preliminary Study

Abstract Introduction: Functional testing is essential for determining the readiness for return to sport (RTS) following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, helping reduce re-injury risk and facilitate RTS activities. The Functional Lower Extremity Evaluation (FLEE is a validated assessment tool comprising various functional tests to evaluate lower limb function and symmetry. Despite its effectiveness in rehabilitation for other procedures, there remains a knowledge gap regarding RTS testing following hip arthroscopy, particularly the application of the FLEE in RTS rehabilitation following hip arthroscopy. This proof-of-concept study aims to assess the utility of the FLEE in guiding RTS rehabilitation protocols for collegiate athletes after hip arthroscopy and to evaluate lower limb symmetry using FLEE components. Methods: A retrospective review of collegiate athletes who underwent hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) was performed. Demographic data, including age, sex, height, weight, injured limb, limb dominance, and sport type were recorded. The 8-task FLEE was administered post-operatively to assess lower extremity function. FLEE components included timed lateral step-down, timed leap and catch, single-leg hop for distance, single-leg timed hop, single-leg triple hop for distance, crossover hop for distance, square hop test, and lower extremity functional test (LEFT). Percent limb symmetry was calculated for each FLEE component. RTS, re-injury and re-operations rates were monitored. Results: This pilot study included 4 collegiate athletes (3 males, 1 female; mean age – 19 years). RTS testing revealed improvements in all FLEE components following the rehabilitation protocol for hip arthroscopy, with RTS achieved at a mean of 5.75 ± 1.44 months. There were no re-injuries or re-operations for the athletes after RTS with a mean follow-up of 52.89 months. Percent limb symmetry ranged from 97.95% to 110.04% across FLEE components. Conclusion: The FLEE appears to be a valuable instrument for assessing lower extremity function and symmetry in college athletes undergoing RTS rehabilitation after hip arthroscopy. The findings in this pilot study suggest that the FLEE may aid in guiding individualized rehabilitation programs and monitoring progress towards RTS goals. Further research with larger cohorts, longitudinal follow-up and comparative studies is warranted to validate these findings and optimize RTS outcomes in this population.

Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Effect of NIL and Transfer Rule Changes on College Basketball Players Entering the NBA Draft

We examine the impact of name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities and changes in transfer rules on the NBA draft decisions of men's college basketball players. The National Collegiate Athletic Association's 2021 liberalization of NIL and transfer eligibility rules enhanced college athletes’ earning potential, thereby possibly influencing their draft entry decisions. Analyzing college players among the top 100 prospects for each draft year between 2019 and 2024, we find that, following the NIL and transfer rule changes, more college players chose to forgo the draft and use the remaining collegiate eligibility. Our findings show a larger impact on players projected to be drafted outside of the first round and that the effect of the NIL and transfer rule changes has grown over time.

Athletic trainer strategies for nurturing athletes’ basic psychological needs during sport injury rehabilitation

Objective: To qualitatively explore athletic trainers’ (ATs’) perceptions of how they support injured college athletes’ basic psychological needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Participants and methods: Thirteen U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association ATs completed semi-structured interviews. Four researchers conducted a deductive thematic analysis. Techniques (audit trail, bracketing of biases, and member checking) were utilized to enhance the study’s rigor. Results: Three themes with eight sub-themes representing need-supporting strategies were constructed: (a) ATs attempted to foster injured athletes’ perceived relatedness by cultivating trusting connections; (b) ATs attempted to foster injured athletes’ perceived competence by engendering mastery during rehabilitation; and (c) ATs attempted to foster injured athletes’ perceived autonomy by promoting ownership of their rehabilitation. Conclusions: Multiple strategies described by ATs were aligned with need-satisfying approaches discussed by athletes in previous research. The present study offers rich descriptions of techniques for facilitating optimal motivation in injured college athletes for ATs to consider.

Intelligent application of biosensor system in university sports health monitoring

The study seeks to examine the design, development, and assessment of an intelligent biosensor system for tracking the health status of university athletes with specific reference to motion, temperature, and blood pressure. The system incorporates state-of-the-art sensor technologies and data analytics for non-contact, continuous tracking of physiological signs during exercise. A series of tests under resting, moderate, and high activity levels provided high accuracy values with MAE below 5 mmHg for blood pressure and 0.3°C for temperature. The motion data showed a significant correlation with the reference systems, indicating that the system was accurate in dynamic conditions. The findings show that the biosensor system can help manage sports health by detecting overexertion, illness, and stress early to protect the athletes and improve their performance.

The “Lost Literature” of Student-Athlete Services: A Content Analysis of Academic Athletic Journal Articles from 1985 to 2006

The National Advisor/Academic Athletic Journal was published by the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) from the early 1980s to 2006. Scholarship in the student-athlete services field was “lost” because it was only available in print to members. Much of this literature has been unread and uncited. Thirty-one issues published from 1985 to 2006 were collected and digitized to preserve and share in an open-access repository. A content analysis was conducted on 168 items over 22 years to understand the topics and trends in this missing literature, the foundation for the field of student-athlete services. The journal published 99 empirical articles and 69 gray literature items in this time frame. Sharing these articles allows 241 unique authors to receive credit for their work in future research. Findings show many current issues affecting college athletes and student-athlete services professionals were prevalent in the journal’s issues. Implications for policy and suggestions for future research were presented.

Survival Outcomes After Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Young Competitive Athletes FromtheUnited States.

Survival Outcomes After Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Young Competitive Athletes FromtheUnited States.

Support networks and well-being: A study of college athletes and depression

ABSTRACT Depression among student-athletes is a prevalent concern affecting well-being and performance. This study examined the multifaceted impact of social support networks on student-athletes’ reported depressive symptoms. The study explores various forms of social support such as emotional support, instrumental support, need for support, and support seeking. This quantitative, cross-sectional study included student-athletes aged 18-years-old (n = 361) competing at National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) programs. Student-athletes completed a web-based instrument that consisted of a demographic questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Berlin Social Support Scale (BSSS). Researchers used a stepwise multiple regression to estimate a model that best predicts scores on the PHQ-9 among student-athletes on scales of the BSSS. The results indicate higher PHQ-9 scores result from higher levels of needed support, lower levels of support sought, and lower levels of instrumental support. This study offers insight into how best to provide support for performance and mental health.

Effects of Dancesport on Walking Balance and Spin Balance of University Athletes at Shenzhen Technology University

Background and Aim: Since walking balance and spin balance are considered crucial skills for dancesport athletes, whether they can perform well or not partially depends on having good postural stability skills or not. Therefore, this research aims to study the effects of dancesport on walking balance and spin balance of university athletes at Shenzhen Technology University, to improve walking balance and spin balance of university athletes. Materials and Methods: This research was quasi-experimental. The research population was university dancesport athletes, individuals possessing fundamental dance skills but not classified as professional athletes, with a total of 30 athletes. The sample group for this research encompasses the entire population, comprising 30 university dance sports athletes. In this experiment, the training will be conducted over a total of 8 weeks, with 5 days per week and 2 hours per day. In addition, there will be tests for walking balance and spin balance conducted a total of 3 times, which include (1) before the start of training; (2) after completing 4 weeks of training; and (3) after completing training in week 8. This study utilized mean, standard deviation, one-way repeated measures ANOVA, and dependent t-tests for data analysis, with the significance level established at 0.05. Results: After 8 weeks of training with the developed dancesport training program, there was a statistically significant improvement at the 0.05 level in walking balance and spin balance of university athletes. Conclusion: The developed dance sports training program was effective in improving the walking balance and spin balance of university athletes.

Testing the moderating role of help-seeking behavior on the relationship between anxiety and psychological well-being among college student athletes

Testing the moderating role of help-seeking behavior on the relationship between anxiety and psychological well-being among college student athletes

Context Matters: Extra-Personal Factors Underlying Concussion Reporting in University Athletes.

Gaps remain in our understanding of which factors contribute to concussion disclosure and how they contribute to this process, thereby limiting our ability to improve disclosure. This study aimed to characterize the most relevant extra-personal determinants of SC disclosure and to describe their influence on the disclosure process. To that aim, the first author conducted substantive qualitative interviews with nine university student-athletes and analyzed their content via constant comparative analysis (guided by Straussian grounded theory). Eleven (11) extra-personal concepts influencing concussion reporting were identified and described across two categories: Contextual Incentives and Socio-Cultural Pressures. These findings suggest that each identified concept can individually shape the context around the injury, creating either higher-stakes conditions that deter disclosure or lower-stakes conditions that encourage it. Further, the results posit that these concepts interact and collectively influence athletes' decision-making process by modulating the perceived stakes of disclosing a concussion. If these findings hold true in more diverse populations and contexts, they suggest that adapting concussion prevention efforts to consider these contextual variables could improve SC disclosure. This study also highlights the benefits of using qualitative methods in the investigation of concussion reporting.

Psychometric properties of the Sport Mental Health Continuum – Short Form scale (Sport MHC-SF): cross-cultural validation and measurement invariance of the Chinese adaptation

BackgroundSport Mental Health Continuum – Short Form (Sport MHC-SF) is an adaptation of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form for athletes. Although validated in Western contexts, its applicability to the Chinese population remains unexplored. This study aims to validate the Chinese adaptation of the Sport MHC-SF in Chinese university athletes, evaluate its reliability and validity, and confirm its factorial structure.MethodsA total of 1,025 Chinese university athletes (65% male, mean age 20 ± 1.54 years) were included in this study. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and multi-group CFA (MGCFA) were conducted using Mplus 8.0 to evaluate the factorial structure and assess measurement invariance across sports levels.ResultsBoth the three-factor and second-order models demonstrated a good fit for the Chinese adaptation of the Sport MHC-SF. Chi-square values were 262.704 (74) and 262.705 (74), respectively, with a comparative fit index (CFI) of 0.968, a Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) of 0.961, a standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) of 0.027, and a root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) of 0.050 (90% CI: 0.043–0.056). Measurement invariance across ranked and non-ranked athletes was confirmed, with minimal changes in fit indices (ΔCFI ≤ 0.01, ΔTLI ≤ 0.01, ΔRMSEA ≤ 0.015) from configural to strict invariance.ConclusionThe Chinese adaptation of the Sport MHC-SF scale has strong construct validity, reliability, and measurement invariance, making it a reliable tool for future research on the well-being of Chinese athletes. This study fills a critical gap in cross-cultural validation, offering a foundation for future research and practical applications in sports psychology among Chinese athletes.

From Exploitative Systems to Exploitative Relationships: A Black Feminist Intervention to Scholarship on Exploitation in College Athletics

This essay introduces interpersonal exploitation in Black women’s relationships in U.S. Division I college athletic environments. Interpersonal exploitation is a Black feminist-oriented analytical frame for exploring how relationships across various levels and systems contribute to the exploitation of Black women and other similarly situated populations in U.S. college athletics. Drawing from existing research, this essay describes how and why scholars, policymakers, and practitioners can use this analytical frame to explore how relationships, and systems that inform these relationships, sustain conditions in which athletes and professionals can be systematically exploited. Addressing exploitation is vital to restore college athletics’ integrity, emphasizing its educational role, and prioritizing well-being.

Anti-Black Misandry as an Emotional Reflection With Black American Male College Athletes: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study

Black American males, specifically Black male athletes, experience a form of twoness that uniquely recognizes their talents but also a societal fear. This work addresses Black American males’ multidimensionality and emotional and psychological expressions when dealing with societal racism. This work explores Anti-Black misandry through an interpretive phenomenological lens. Five Black American men who are former college athletes reflect and emotionally express their experiences being a Black man and an athlete throughout their entire athletic continuum and post their athletic tenure. Results suggest that Black males are willing to express their vulnerabilities emotionally in safe spaces while recognizing racialized gender norms about emotional expressions. Implications of this study suggest that Black American male college athletes, when given constructive support, have meaningful ideas and resolutions about how society can honestly acknowledge their humanity and not just gaze at their existence as entertaining objects.

Predicting Multijoint Maximal Eccentric and Concentric Strength With Force-Velocity Jump Mechanics in Collegiate Athletes.

Maximal muscle strength is often assessed with single-joint or repetition-maximum testing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of countermovement-jump (CMJ) velocity-load testing and assess the relationship between CMJ velocity-load kinetics and concentric-isometric-eccentric multijoint leg-extension strength tested on a robotic servomotor leg press in trained athletes. University athletes (N = 203; 52% female) completed 3 concentric, isometric, and eccentric maximum voluntary leg-extension contractions on the robotic leg press, followed by CMJ velocity-load testing with an additional external load of 0% (CMJBW), 30% (CMJ30), and 60% (CMJ60) of body mass. A linear model was fit for the CMJ takeoff velocity-load relationship to obtain the load intercept. Force-velocity parameters were obtained for the CMJ eccentric deceleration and concentric phases. Linear mixed-effects models were constructed to predict concentric, isometric, and eccentric leg-press force using the CMJ takeoff velocity-load relationship and CMJ kinetics. Isometric leg-press strength was predicted by load intercept and sex (P < .001, R2 = .565, prediction error = 14%). Concentric leg-press strength was predicted by load intercept, CMJ60 concentric impulse, and sex (P < .001, R2 = .657, prediction error = 10%). Eccentric leg-press strength was predicted by minimum downward velocity, CMJ60 eccentric deceleration impulse, and sex (P < .001, R2 = .359, prediction error = 14%). Given the relevance of muscle-strength testing for sport performance and injury prevention, assessing force-velocity mechanics with loaded CMJ testing is a reliable and viable approach to predict maximal concentric, isometric, and eccentric leg-press strength in competitive athletes.

The Role of Social Support in Concussion Rehabilitation: A Prospective Mixed Methods Study of Canadian University Athletes' Return to Sport.

Social support is an important consideration during athletes' rehabilitation following a concussion. Yet, its influence during the return-to-sport (RTS) strategy has been underexplored. Concussed athletes' experiences with social support during RTS were explored prospectively using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. University rugby, basketball, and track and field athletes (N = 8) from a single Canadian institution, 19-23years of age (mean = 20.63, SD = 1.51), completed concentric circles maps, the Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire, and 2 semistructured interviews during their RTS. We analyzed concentric circles maps and questionnaire data descriptively and interview data using codebook thematic analysis. Athletes identified 16 different social support agents. The 5 most important agents during RTS were athletic therapists, student therapists, head coaches, significant others, and teammates/friends. Significant others provided the most emotional (mean = 2.82, SD = 1.85) and esteem (mean = 2.63, SD = 1.85) support, and the athletic therapist (mean = 1.82, SD = 1.35) and head coaches (mean = 0.93, SD = 1.19) provided the most informational and tangible support. We generated 4 themes from athletes' interviews: social support behaviors, contextual factors, concussion and RTS factors, and psychological readiness factors. The number of social support agents present, frequency of support types, and demonstration of support behaviors decreased across the concussion RTS strategy. Contextual (ie,toughness), concussion (ie,visibility), and RTS (ie,prognosis uncertainty) factors influenced athletes'perceptions of social support agents' support behaviors. Results add to our limited understanding of athletes' social support during RTS following a concussion and suggest exploring the integration of behavior-specific (eg,checking in, providing reassurance, and demonstrating compassion) social support strategies to promote concussion rehabilitation and readiness to RTS.