Advisor(s)
Scott C. Swanson, Ph.D
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Start Date
11-4-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
11-4-2025 12:50 PM
Abstract
Introduction/Background
Resting blood pressures and heart rates are common pre-participation cardiovascular measurements in college athletes. Athletes in the NCAA’s Division III comprise nearly 40% of all participants in college athletics. Despite the large number of athletes participating in Division III athletics, few studies have examined resting pre-participation cardiovascular measurements in male and female Division III athletes.
Purpose
Determine resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rates in male and female athletes at ONU from 2000 - 2023.
Methods
Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rates were measured in athletes on 19 ONU sport teams (N = 10 men’s and N = 9 women’s sports) from 2000-2023. Athletes’ resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures (mm Hg) and heart rates (beats per min) were used from their most recently recorded pre-participation measurements.
Results
All data are expressed as mean ± SD. All data were analyzed via a one-way ANOVA. Significance was set at p < 0.05. A total of 6147 athletes were examined from 2000 - 2023 (~70% male; ~30% female). Significant differences existed for all cardiovascular measurements when comparing male and female athletes (see Table 1 below). Compared to female athletes, male athletes had elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressures and had lower resting heart rates.
Table 1: Resting Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Measurements
Measurement Male Athletes Female Athletes
Systolic Blood Pressure (mm Hg) 126.6 ± 0.29* 118.9 ± 0.23
Diastolic Blood Pressure (mm Hg) 75.8 ± 0.40* 72.9 ± 0.40
Resting Heart Rate (bpm) 71.7 ± 0.36* 73.5 ± 0.44
Recommended Citation
Swanson, Scott; Prusnek, Katie; Metcalf, Nora; Widmark, Dani; and Ruggles, Rachel, "Resting Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Measurements Are Different in Division III Male and Female Athletes at Ohio Northern University from 2000-2023" (2025). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 78.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2025/Posters/78
Level of Access
Open Access
Resting Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Measurements Are Different in Division III Male and Female Athletes at Ohio Northern University from 2000-2023
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Introduction/Background
Resting blood pressures and heart rates are common pre-participation cardiovascular measurements in college athletes. Athletes in the NCAA’s Division III comprise nearly 40% of all participants in college athletics. Despite the large number of athletes participating in Division III athletics, few studies have examined resting pre-participation cardiovascular measurements in male and female Division III athletes.
Purpose
Determine resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rates in male and female athletes at ONU from 2000 - 2023.
Methods
Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rates were measured in athletes on 19 ONU sport teams (N = 10 men’s and N = 9 women’s sports) from 2000-2023. Athletes’ resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures (mm Hg) and heart rates (beats per min) were used from their most recently recorded pre-participation measurements.
Results
All data are expressed as mean ± SD. All data were analyzed via a one-way ANOVA. Significance was set at p < 0.05. A total of 6147 athletes were examined from 2000 - 2023 (~70% male; ~30% female). Significant differences existed for all cardiovascular measurements when comparing male and female athletes (see Table 1 below). Compared to female athletes, male athletes had elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressures and had lower resting heart rates.
Table 1: Resting Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Measurements
Measurement Male Athletes Female Athletes
Systolic Blood Pressure (mm Hg) 126.6 ± 0.29* 118.9 ± 0.23
Diastolic Blood Pressure (mm Hg) 75.8 ± 0.40* 72.9 ± 0.40
Resting Heart Rate (bpm) 71.7 ± 0.36* 73.5 ± 0.44