APPLICATION OF THE HEART SCORE CONCEPT TO THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY OF OLYMPIC ATHLETES

Abstract

Electrocardiograms were recorded from Olympic athletes, schoolboy athletes and veterinary students. From measurement of the QRS interval a heart score was determined for each individual. Male Olympic athletes had significantly higher heart scores than the females, schoolboy athletes and veterinary students. The competitors in Olympic events, which seemed likely to place considerable demand on the cardio-vascular system, had significantly higher heart scores. In this type of event, with one exception, only those males with heart scores of 100 or more and those females with scores of 90 or more reached finals or won medals at the 1968 Olympic Games. Significant positive correlations were found between the heart score and the transverse diameter of the heart and the cardio-thoracic ratio. These results support findings in the horse, which showed that the heart score was a reliable indicator of heart size. Some implications of the heart score in relation to athletic performance are discussed.