Date of Award
5-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Legacy Department
Food, Nutrition, and Culinary Science
Committee Member
Vivian Haley-Zitlin
Committee Member
Julia Sharp
Committee Member
Katherine Cason
Committee Member
Loreto Jackson
Abstract
In order to determine blood pressure changes during the football season and the causes of the changes in collegiate football athletes, forty-seven National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) division 1 athletes were recruited to participate in the study. Each participant had a pre-season, mid-season, and post-season blood pressure measurement taken. A questionnaire was completed at the mid- and post-season blood pressure assessments to determine blood pressure knowledge, dietary intake, and physical activity levels. An educational tool was provided in order to encourage knowledge growth regarding general blood pressure knowledge and causes of high blood pressure. Overall, blood pressure levels showed a decrease in both systolic (6.71 ± 12.3 mmHg) and diastolic (1.64 ± 8.71 mmHg) measures from the mid-season to post-season measurements. There were no notable changes in knowledge levels. Some significant positive changes were made in dietary intake, specifically in athletes eating more meals at home and fewer meals at the athletics’ cafeteria, and a decrease in sweet snack intake. Other significant changes took place in physical activity levels, specifically an increase in resistance training. The information gained from the study can be used in the future to improve blood pressure management in elite level college athletes.
Recommended Citation
Armstron, Sarah, "Examination of Health Related Practices and Knowledge That May Affect Blood Pressure in NCAA Division 1 Collegiate Football Players" (2016). All Theses. 2353.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/2353