Athlete's heart patterns in elite rugby players: Effects of training specificities

SummaryBackgroundAthlete's heart patterns have been widely described. However, to our knowledge, few studies have focused on professional rugby players, who train differently according to their field position.AimTo describe electrocardiographic and echocardiographic patterns observed in elite rugby players according to their field position.MethodsOne hundred and thirty-five professional rugby players at the end of the competitive season were included.ResultsAccording to a modified Pelliccia's classification, 68.1% of electrocardiograms were normal or had minor abnormalities, 27.2% were mildly abnormal and 3.7% were distinctly abnormal. Heart rate was higher in scrum first-row players (P<0.05). Absolute and indexed left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameters (LVIDd; absolute value 59.3±4.7mm) exceeded 65mm and 32mm/m2 in 13% and 1.5% of players, respectively. Indexed LVIDd values were higher in back players (P