The Incidence of Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm in Competitive Figure Skaters

Abstract

Pediatric commitment to competitive sports is on the rise. Previous reports of the incidence of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) have investigated high school, college, and Olympic athletes in traditional sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of EIB in competitive figure skating, a high-intensity, cold-weather sport performed by young athletes. To investigate the incidence of EIB in skaters, 100 competitive skaters from five Mid-Atlantic rinks completed rinkside pulmonary function tests. Results showed an overall incidence of 30%, signaling the need for education and screening for EIB in youth participating in physically demanding, cold-weather sports.