Study design
Who can participate?
Endurance-sport competitors:
- Competing in triathlon, cycling, rowing, canoeing, distance running (1500 meters or longer), swimming
- Aged 16–23
- Likely to continue endurance sport at a competitive level for at least the next 5 years.
Non-athletes or competitors in a skill-based sport:
- Non-athletes or competing in skill based activities with no required aerobic training (e.g. chess, riflery, archery, billiards, bowling)
- Aged 16–23
- Performing less than 2 hours of endurance sport per week.
You can not participate if:
- You are smoker
- You are on medications that may affect your heart or blood vessel function
- You are known with a heart condition for which sports practice would not be recommended
- You are unable to undergo Cardiac MRI (e.g. you have an implanted metallic device such as a pacemaker).
What is involved?
This study involves baseline testing and a repeat test in 2 years.
The tests we will be conducting are:
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance imaging (CMR)
- Heart ultrasound
- VO2max
- DEXA scan
- 24h Holter monitor
- Blood samples, measurements of height and weight
If you are interested to participate and undergo assessement as a team feel free to contact us.
The complete trial design can be found here.