Scientists are using the latest imaging technology to monitor the hearts of rising football stars at Manchester United.
The unique research project, led by the Bristol Heart Institute at the University of Bristol, hopes to give ‘invaluable insights’ into how young people’s hearts work during exercise.
It will analyse the healthy limits and benefits of exercise for 100 elite junior athletes from the Manchester United Academy, 100 healthy children and 100 children born with heart conditions.
Results will be used to identify heart performance of different groups to help with better identification of abnormalities, which sometimes cannot be found at rest.
Currently, doctors use echocardiograms on children at rest, which makes it more difficult to assess heart performance and mild functional abnormalities.
The research, expected to be completed by 2016, will monitor heart function both at rest and during maximum exercise, along with exercise capacity and lung function.
Dave Perry, academy doctor at Manchester United, said: “Our players at the Academy have been offered an amazing opportunity to receive a most comprehensive screening of their cardiovascular health.
The research would lead to a more precise and earlier diagnosis of heart function abnormalities
“The screening process offered by Toshiba Medical Services in conjunction with the Bristol Heart Institute and University of Exeter’s Children’s Health and Exercise Research Centre will give a novel way of ensuring that they have no identifiable cardiac issues.
“The players are enthused that their information will help to contribute to furthering knowledge about the health of the nation.
“The screening process will help to provide reassurance to the player’s parents that their son is capable of withstanding the demands that training at an elite level requires. Parents frequently ask me with regard to the risks of sudden cardiac death while exercising and the current pathway will hopefully provide some reassurance.
“It is hoped that the information from the fitness assessment will help to develop and fine tune the club’s Sports Science Department training programmes.”
Guido Pieles, clinical lecturer in paediatric cardiology at the University of Bristol and Bristol Congenital Heart Centre, is leading the project.
He said the research would lead to a more precise and earlier diagnosis of heart function abnormalities, as well as evaluating the benefits of exercise for obese patients.
“Not only will it allow us to identify effective diagnosis and treatment pathways for children with congenital heart disease but it will also provide new insights in the search for the right screening tools for heart abnormalities in youth athletes,” Pieles said.
“Significant research progress has been made over the last decade in the adult athlete population to prevent exercise related sudden cardiac death (SCD), but validated screening protocols for childhood and adolescent athletes are still missing.”