The purpose of this study was to evaluate the autonomic balance and cardiovascular demands of collegiate sideline cheerleaders between practice and game settings, and throughout four quarters of a football game; and to evaluate the physical fitness of collegiate Division I cheerleaders. Eleven cheerleaders volunteered to participate (age; 18.9+0.8y, height; 163.2+4.3cm, and body mass; 64.9+8.7kg). Basic physical fitness was assessed by evaluating blood pressure, resting heart rate, grip strength, and body composition. Physiological data (maximal heart rate [HR], average HR, physiological intensity, physiological load, maximal activity, and average activity) were collected at four practices and four games using a Zephyr Bioharness HR monitor. Prior to each practice and game, a 15-minute heart rate variability (HRV) reading was taken in the seated position. There was a significantly higher LF/HF ratio prior to game than prior to practice (p< 0.01). Average HR was significantly higher during game than practice (p< 0.01). Average activity level was significantly higher during game than in practice (p< 0.01), while maximal activity level was significantly higher in practice than during game (p< 0.01). More time was spent in the moderate and vigorous intensity heart rate zones during games than during practice (p< 0.05). Average HR, physiological intensity, and physiological load were significantly higher in Q1 and Q2 than Q3 and Q4 (p< 0.01). Maximal HR was significantly higher in Q1 than Q3 and Q4 (p< 0.01). The present study demonstrates higher HR and intensities and a shift toward sympathetic activity in games than during practice in Division I cheerleaders, therefore implementing more high-intensity exercise sessions during practice may be beneficial to mimic a game-like situation.
","abstract_html":"<p>The purpose of this study was to evaluate the autonomic balance and cardiovascular demands of collegiate sideline cheerleaders between practice and game settings, and throughout four quarters of a football game; and to evaluate the physical fitness of collegiate Division I cheerleaders. Eleven cheerleaders volunteered to participate (age; 18.9+0.8y, height; 163.2+4.3cm, and body mass; 64.9+8.7kg). Basic physical fitness was assessed by evaluating blood pressure, resting heart rate, grip strength, and body composition. Physiological data (maximal heart rate [HR], average HR, physiological intensity, physiological load, maximal activity, and average activity) were collected at four practices and four games using a Zephyr Bioharness HR monitor. Prior to each practice and game, a 15-minute heart rate variability (HRV) reading was taken in the seated position. There was a significantly higher LF/HF ratio prior to game than prior to practice (p< 0.01). Average HR was significantly higher during game than practice (p< 0.01). Average activity level was significantly higher during game than in practice (p< 0.01), while maximal activity level was significantly higher in practice than during game (p< 0.01). More time was spent in the moderate and vigorous intensity heart rate zones during games than during practice (p< 0.05). Average HR, physiological intensity, and physiological load were significantly higher in Q1 and Q2 than Q3 and Q4 (p< 0.01). Maximal HR was significantly higher in Q1 than Q3 and Q4 (p< 0.01). The present study demonstrates higher HR and intensities and a shift toward sympathetic activity in games than during practice in Division I cheerleaders, therefore implementing more high-intensity exercise sessions during practice may be beneficial to mimic a game-like situation.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Cornett, McKenna"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Health Science","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Kinesiology and Health Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Kate Early","Dr. Brian Tyo","Dr. Clayton Nicks"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2018,"date_issued":"2018-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2018-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:45:01Z","subjects":["Cheerleaders","Heart Rate Variability","Intensity","Fitness","Circulatory and Respiratory Physiology","Medicine and Health Sciences"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/424","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Kate Early","Dr. Brian Tyo","Dr. Clayton Nicks"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Cornett, McKenna"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2021-05-04T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Kinesiology and Health Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Health Science"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Cheerleaders","Heart Rate Variability","Intensity","Fitness","Circulatory and Respiratory Physiology","Medicine and Health Sciences"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/424"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The purpose of this study was to evaluate the autonomic balance and cardiovascular demands of collegiate sideline cheerleaders between practice and game settings, and throughout four quarters of a football game; and to evaluate the physical fitness of collegiate Division I cheerleaders. Eleven cheerleaders volunteered to participate (age; 18.9+0.8y, height; 163.2+4.3cm, and body mass; 64.9+8.7kg). Basic physical fitness was assessed by evaluating blood pressure, resting heart rate, grip strength, and body composition. Physiological data (maximal heart rate [HR], average HR, physiological intensity, physiological load, maximal activity, and average activity) were collected at four practices and four games using a Zephyr Bioharness HR monitor. Prior to each practice and game, a 15-minute heart rate variability (HRV) reading was taken in the seated position. There was a significantly higher LF/HF ratio prior to game than prior to practice (p< 0.01). Average HR was significantly higher during game than practice (p< 0.01). Average activity level was significantly higher during game than in practice (p< 0.01), while maximal activity level was significantly higher in practice than during game (p< 0.01). More time was spent in the moderate and vigorous intensity heart rate zones during games than during practice (p< 0.05). Average HR, physiological intensity, and physiological load were significantly higher in Q1 and Q2 than Q3 and Q4 (p< 0.01). Maximal HR was significantly higher in Q1 than Q3 and Q4 (p< 0.01). The present study demonstrates higher HR and intensities and a shift toward sympathetic activity in games than during practice in Division I cheerleaders, therefore implementing more high-intensity exercise sessions during practice may be beneficial to mimic a game-like situation.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Cardiovascular Demands of Division I Sideline Cheerleaders During Training and Football Games"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dr. Kate Early","Dr. Brian Tyo","Dr. Clayton Nicks"],"dc:creator":["Cornett, McKenna"],"dc:date.available":["2021-05-04T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The purpose of this study was to evaluate the autonomic balance and cardiovascular demands of collegiate sideline cheerleaders between practice and game settings, and throughout four quarters of a football game; and to evaluate the physical fitness of collegiate Division I cheerleaders. Eleven cheerleaders volunteered to participate (age; 18.9+0.8y, height; 163.2+4.3cm, and body mass; 64.9+8.7kg). Basic physical fitness was assessed by evaluating blood pressure, resting heart rate, grip strength, and body composition. Physiological data (maximal heart rate [HR], average HR, physiological intensity, physiological load, maximal activity, and average activity) were collected at four practices and four games using a Zephyr Bioharness HR monitor. Prior to each practice and game, a 15-minute heart rate variability (HRV) reading was taken in the seated position. There was a significantly higher LF/HF ratio prior to game than prior to practice (p< 0.01). Average HR was significantly higher during game than practice (p< 0.01). Average activity level was significantly higher during game than in practice (p< 0.01), while maximal activity level was significantly higher in practice than during game (p< 0.01). More time was spent in the moderate and vigorous intensity heart rate zones during games than during practice (p< 0.05). Average HR, physiological intensity, and physiological load were significantly higher in Q1 and Q2 than Q3 and Q4 (p< 0.01). Maximal HR was significantly higher in Q1 than Q3 and Q4 (p< 0.01). The present study demonstrates higher HR and intensities and a shift toward sympathetic activity in games than during practice in Division I cheerleaders, therefore implementing more high-intensity exercise sessions during practice may be beneficial to mimic a game-like situation.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/424"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:subject":["Cheerleaders","Heart Rate Variability","Intensity","Fitness","Circulatory and Respiratory Physiology","Medicine and Health Sciences"],"dc:title":["The Cardiovascular Demands of Division I Sideline Cheerleaders During Training and Football Games"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Kinesiology and Health Sciences"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Health Science"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:45:01Z"}