CONTINUOUS RADIOELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC MONITORING OF FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL COACHES DURING GAMES

Thirty football and basketball coaches were monitored continuously with a radiotelemetric monitoring device throughout games in which their teams competed. All responded to the stress of the game with an increase in heart rate averaging 42 beats per minute over resting rates in the pregame period and with an additional increase of 21 beats and with an additional increase of 21 beats per minute during the game period. Eight coaches developed rare premature ventricular beats and in two they were frequent. The only coach with known coronary disease had multifocal premature ventricular beats. Eleven developed rare premature atrial beats and in one they were frequent. A short run of atrial tachycardia occurred in one coach. None of them developed symptoms or significant S-T, T, or QRS changes. © 1969.