RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Feasibility of precompetition medical assessment at FIFA World Cups for female youth players
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 1132
OP 1133
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2011-090374
VO 46
IS 16
A1 Jiri Dvorak
A1 Katharina Grimm
A1 Christian Schmied
A1 Astrid Junge
YR 2012
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/16/1132.abstract
AB Background Although most experts agree that preparticipation screening is important to prevent sudden cardiac death in sport, only a few reports have been published on the feasibility of its practical implementation. Methods The football associations participating in the U-17 and U-20 Women's World Cups 2010 were asked to perform a standardised precompetition medical assessment (PCMA) of their players (in total 672). Results Compliance with the requirement for performing the PCMA was high among all teams, particularly from African, Asian and Central/South American countries. No relevant abnormal findings in personal history and clinical cardiological examination were reported. Athletic ECG patterns were frequent, but very few findings were considered to require further investigation. All players were declared as eligible to play. Conclusions Based on the demonstrated feasibility of performing a comprehensive PCMA in elite female youth players, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Executive Committee decided to make the PCMA a compulsory requirement for all FIFA competitions.