Manchester United's rising stars help Bristol researchers revolutionise heart health
A new research project, led by University of Bristol academics
and the
Bristol Heart Institute, to identify the effects of exercise on
young people's hearts was announced on 28 Jan 2015. Manchester
United's Academy players are being put through their paces having
their hearts monitored by the latest imaging technology to give
invaluable insights into how young people's hearts work while doing
exercise.
The research partnership will investigate the fitness levels of
300 children while exercising, when the heart is working harder.
Participants comprise 100 children born with heart conditions, 100
healthy children and adolescents and 100 elite junior athletes from
the Manchester
United Academy.
Dr Guido Pieles, NIHR-Clinical Lecturer in Paediatric
Cardiology at the University of Bristol and Bristol Congenital
Heart Centre, who is leading the research project, said: "This is a
unique study, using the latest technology to image the heart while
it's 'at work' during exercise. We hope it will enable us to
improve scanning protocols and applications, lead to a more precise
and earlier diagnosis of heart function abnormalities.
Dr Graham Stuart, Senior Consultant and Sports Cardiologist at
the Congenital Heart Unit in Bristol, added: "Exercise is a
critically important cardiovascular function which has been
neglected in recent years, we hope this research will lead to the
development of innovative diagnostic and treatment strategies in
young people with heart disease."
